Lebanon still deadlocked on future of Flock cameras
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Lebanon City Council still can't agree on what to do with its 20 Flock Safety cameras that remain covered with bags.
Why it matters: The indecision leaves tens of thousands of dollars worth of surveillance technology sitting unused.
Driving the news: Council split 3-3 Tuesday on another attempt to terminate its contract with Flock, after a similar effort failed earlier this month.
- Lebanon covered its cameras in early September after Mayor Mark Messer raised concerns about data privacy and security.
Friction point: Council members largely agree the camera system raises privacy concerns, but remain divided over whether to address them with stronger safeguards or scrap the technology altogether.
- Messer wants to cancel the contract, which is paid off but doesn't expire until May 14, 2027. He says using the technology could put the city at risk of an expensive lawsuit involving Flock.
- "This is a first principles issue for me," Messer tells Axios. "There is no compromise that I will entertain."
- Council member Brad Lamoreaux also opposes the technology over concerns about how future governments could use it.
The other side: Council member Mike Cope supports shorter data retention periods and tighter restrictions on information sharing to preserve a tool for police, saying "it's a helpful tool that helps keep us safe."
- Vice Mayor Scott Norris, who previously opposed cancellation, was absent Tuesday and hasn't yet responded to a request for comment after the meeting.
Meanwhile, Lebanon police are left without a tool they've relied on for investigations.
- Flock mistakenly removed six cameras without notifying the city after they were flagged as inactive, WCPO reports.
Police chief Jeffrey Mitchell highlighted the cameras' value Tuesday, saying they've assisted in 167 investigations since June 2024 — including a homicide case, a stolen vehicle case and a bank robbery.
- He told Council that Lebanon's cameras don't use facial recognition, and searches require a legitimate law enforcement purpose and case number.
- Access to the data is limited to approved Ohio agencies, with searches logged and audited.
What he's saying: "No technology or safeguard can make misuse impossible," Mitchell said. "That is why technology must be combined with strong local policy, supervision, auditing, and accountability."
- Mitchell said his department would support reducing data retention from 30 days to 14, which he considers more ideal than Flock's new seven-day option because longer retention gives investigators more time to solve crimes.
The bottom line: With no agreement in sight, Messer suggested residents could gather signatures to consider putting the issue on a future ballot.
- "I'd be the first to sign," he tells Axios.