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Independence, Kentucky, has deactivated its Flock cameras after residents raised concerns about privacy and data collection. Mayor Chris Reinersman announced the cameras’ removal one week earlier following public opposition. The decision comes as other Greater Cincinnati communities continue to debate the use of automated license plate readers.
Flock cameras are now deactivated in Independence, Kentucky, after weeks of resident opposition.
This means that flock cameras stopped collecting data about a week after Mayor Chris Reinersman announced their removal.
The city confirmed the deactivation Monday, Aug. 31, WLWT reported. The move came one week after Reinersman announced that Independence would immediately begin removing the automated license plate readers.
The cameras remain physically mounted for now. The city said the poles and solar panels will stay until Flock Safety removes the equipment.
Officials said leaving the equipment in place temporarily will help avoid additional costs if the cameras become damaged during removal. The cameras themselves, however, are no longer operating.
Residents had raised concerns about privacy, data collection and access to information gathered by the system. Those concerns became a major issue during a public meeting earlier in August.
Flock cameras deactivated after public backlash
Flock cameras were deactivated after Independence residents strongly opposed their continued use.
Reinersman announced the original removal decision on Aug. 24. He said the public response played a major role in the decision.
The mayor has continued to defend the technology itself. He previously said the cameras had helped police investigate crimes and locate missing people.
However, Reinersman said elected officials must listen when residents clearly express their position.
The city posted its Aug. 24 statement on its official website.
According to WLWT, Reinersman said the community response was overwhelmingly against keeping the cameras. He said public support for continuing the program was limited.
That decision came after residents packed an Independence City Council meeting on Aug. 17. The meeting focused on the city’s use and possible expansion of Flock license plate readers.
Meanwhile, WCPO reported that residents raised concerns about privacy and who could access information collected through the system. Some residents also questioned whether the technology could create a searchable record of people’s movements.
Flock cameras had helped police investigations
Flock cameras had also provided information that Independence police considered useful.
The Independence Police Department told WCPO that the system produced 31 documented successes from December 2023 through July 2026. Those cases included stolen vehicles, theft, assault and weapons offenses.
Police Chief Brian Ferayorni said officers used the cameras during active investigations. He also said officers used the system when trying to locate missing or endangered people.
FOX19 previously reported that Independence had 17 Flock cameras in operation. The city spent more than $100,000 installing the cameras, which it rented from Flock Safety.
The cameras were designed to capture license plate information and vehicle characteristics. Law enforcement agencies can use that information to identify vehicles connected to investigations.
Reinersman said the technology remained valuable in certain cases. He specifically pointed to missing-person investigations and situations involving children taken by a parent or other individual.
Despite those benefits, the mayor ultimately decided to end the program after the public response.
The decision means Independence will no longer have access to the Flock system for new investigations.
Flock cameras faced privacy concerns
Privacy concerns became central to the debate over Flock cameras in Independence.
Residents questioned how the technology stores information and who can access the collected data. Some also raised concerns about artificial intelligence and the possibility of broader surveillance.
A special city council meeting on Aug. 17 gave residents roughly two hours to discuss the technology. Spectrum News reported that residents strongly opposed the city’s contract with Flock Safety during the meeting. (Spectrum Local News)
The city had initially used the technology as a law enforcement tool. Independence began using Flock cameras in 2024 after previously testing the technology.
LINK nky reported that Independence initially contracted for 10 automatic license plate readers in 2024. The city later added more cameras, with 17 in use by the time of the August public meeting.
The debate intensified as other communities reconsidered similar surveillance systems.
Residents in other Northern Kentucky communities have also challenged Flock cameras over privacy and surveillance concerns.
That regional debate has placed additional attention on how local governments balance investigative technology with public concerns.
Other Northern Kentucky cities removed Flock cameras
Independence is not the only Northern Kentucky community to stop using Flock cameras.
Newport previously ended plans for its Flock camera program following community opposition. Fort Mitchell also decided to terminate its use of the technology in August.
Erlanger became another Northern Kentucky community to end its Flock program. WLWT reported that Erlanger removed four cameras and deactivated another camera that remained on a pole.
FOX19 reported that Erlanger had five operational cameras during its pilot program. Police Chief Mike Leming said the department would continue solving cases without the technology.
The developments show how quickly local governments are reconsidering automated license plate readers.
For Independence, the decision followed a direct public debate over whether the technology should remain in the city.
The city had already spent more than $100,000 installing its cameras. Those cameras will now be returned to Flock Safety after the removal process is completed.
What happens to the Flock cameras next
The cameras have been deactivated, but the physical equipment has not yet been completely removed.
Independence said the poles and solar panels will remain temporarily. Flock Safety is expected to remove the remaining equipment.
The city said it wants to prevent additional costs that could result if the equipment were damaged before Flock removes it. The cameras will not continue collecting information while they remain in place.
This distinction is important because deactivation and physical removal are happening at different stages.
The city has effectively ended its access to the Flock system. The remaining work involves removing the hardware from locations throughout Independence.
The latest development also closes a rapid sequence of events. Residents publicly challenged the technology on Aug. 17, the mayor announced its removal on Aug. 24, and the city confirmed deactivation on Aug. 31.
The city has not indicated that it plans to replace Flock cameras with another automated license plate reader system.
For now, Independence police will continue investigations without access to the city’s Flock camera network.
The decision also leaves open broader questions about how Northern Kentucky communities will use automated surveillance technology in the future.
As communities reconsider these systems, public meetings and local policies will likely remain central to the debate.
What about in Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is part of the broader regional debate over Flock cameras, even though the city does not use Flock Safety cameras. Cincinnati instead uses Axon license plate reader technology, and City Council is now reviewing how the city’s cameras, drones and license plate readers collect, retain and share data. The review comes as Hamilton County and several Tri-State communities reconsider Flock programs over privacy and data-sharing concerns.
FAQs
Why did Independence deactivate its Flock cameras?
Independence deactivated its Flock cameras after residents and some city council members opposed the technology. Concerns included privacy, data security and how the information could be used.
How many Flock cameras did Independence have?
Independence had 17 Flock cameras before the city ended the program. The cameras captured license plate and vehicle information for law enforcement investigations.
Why does the Independence decision matter to Cincinnati?
Independence is part of the Greater Cincinnati region, where communities have taken different approaches to Flock cameras. The decision adds to the regional debate over how automated license plate readers should be used and regulated.
