Edgewood's four Flock Safety license plate reader cameras are offline. They will stay that way until at least Oct. 5.

Mayor John Link announced the immediate pause in a community statement dated Sept. 1. The cameras, which automatically read license plates and capture video, will remain inactive while the city reviews the program and collects resident feedback.

Under the mayor's directive, the Flock camera issue will not appear on an Edgewood City Council agenda until the Oct. 5 meeting.

Edgewood's system includes four dual-use automatic license plate reader (ALPR) and video cameras under contract with Flock Safety, LINK nky reported. The contract's cost and term were not included in the mayor's statement or city records reviewed by LINK nky.

Link said in his statement that the pause is not a decision to abandon the technology or reduce support for the Edgewood Police Department. He framed it as a chance for the council, department heads and city staff to review how the cameras are used and whether policies or safeguards need to change.

The mayor acknowledged concerns on both sides. He listed privacy, data retention, access to collected information, data sharing and the potential for misuse as legitimate worries. He also cited benefits including helping identify vehicles tied to criminal activity, locating stolen cars and potentially deterring crime.

Link wrote that public safety and individual rights are not competing values and that the city has a responsibility to protect both.

Residents can submit feedback or questions by emailing [email protected].

The cameras are off now.

Edgewood joins a growing list of communities pulling back from Flock cameras during the summer of 2026. Fort Mitchell ended its five-camera, $34,000 program after residents and council members raised surveillance and privacy concerns, LINK nky reported Aug. 18. Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman announced the removal of all Flock cameras in that city after overwhelming community opposition, according to WLWT. Newport also abandoned its program.

Across the river, Pierce Township's Board of Trustees voted Aug. 12 to end its Flock contract, according to WLWT. At least half a dozen Greater Cincinnati communities have reversed course on the technology, WLWT reported.

Flock Safety has responded by reducing its default data retention period from 30 days to seven and making misuse detection mandatory for all customers, according to WLWT.

Edgewood's next step is the Oct. 5 council meeting, when the cameras could return to the agenda.