Columbus Police Halt Flock License Plate Readers Amid Investigation
Columbus police have temporarily suspended their use of automatic license plate readers from Flock following allegations that an officer searched the same license plate over 270 times in about 14 months.
According to reports, Mayor Andrew Ginther expressed concern over the officer’s actions, describing them as “deeply troubling”. As a result, the city is taking immediate steps to stop the use of these cameras and is covering them to prevent further data collection. Additionally, there will be an audit of all Flock searches conducted by the police, and City Council is working on new legislation to regulate the future use of these cameras.
The officer involved is Melvin Tellis, who has been with the City Council Executive Protection Unit since 2017. A review of public records revealed that Tellis conducted over 270 searches on a single license plate from November 2023 through December 2024, with his reasons usually being quite vague, often simply noting “location.”
Police Chief Elaine Bryant stated that they believe these searches were not job-related, but she didn’t disclose specifics about the license plate itself. The police department found out about the searches on September 1, just a day after local media began inquiring about suspicious search histories. Tellis has been relieved of his duties while the investigation is ongoing, required to surrender his firearm, badge, and other equipment, and is now assigned to a desk job at police headquarters, though he remains on the payroll.
Garrett Langley, the CEO of Flock, has previously suggested a need for a balance between safety and privacy. He stated, “When people talk about just one of these, privacy or safety, they’re prioritizing the wrong thing.” Langley posed a question that reflects the ongoing debate: “How do we have our safety, and how do we balance privacy?”
In a different interview, he acknowledged the concerns raised after hearing from someone who claimed to be a stalking victim, expressing regret over the situation. Nonetheless, he distanced Flock from any blame regarding police misuse of their technology, suggesting that his company is actually highlighting and addressing such issues.
