SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO) – The city of Shaker Heights signed an amended contract with Flock Safety, a company that makes automated license plate readers, restricting the access that other agencies have to Shaker’s Flock data and adopting strict internal policies for use of this technology.
“Moving forward, we are committed to keeping this valuable law enforcement tool available to the Shaker Heights Police Department,” said Mayor David E. Weiss. “Flock LPRs have helped Shaker police solve a number of crimes, including homicide, sexual assault, and aggravated robbery. Flock also enabled our officers to recover a missing juvenile. These LPRs have proven to be useful and effective law enforcement tools.”
The city has taken three actions regarding the Flock technology.
Contract Changes
After months of discussion with the company, Mayor Weiss signed an amended version of the Flock contract with changes to its standard terms and conditions that clarify and put strict limits on how Flock, as a corporation, could otherwise potentially use City data.
Previous language in Shaker’s contract with Flock contained ambiguous language regarding Flock access and use City data. But new contract language will eliminate any such ambiguity by use of strict controls
New contractual language sets the following requirements:
· Flock is not allowed to access, use, preserve, or disclose any of the City’s data to any governmental authority or other third parties except pursuant to a valid search warrant issued by a court.
· Flock is not allowed to disclose City footage or data in response to subpoenas, administrative requests, informal inquiries, preservation letters, national security letters, or anything other than a search warrant issued by a court.
· Flock may not voluntarily disclose City footage or data based solely on a good faith belief, contractual enforcement interests, investigatory convenience, or generalized public safety concerns.
· Flock is required to provide prompt written notice to the City before any disclosure and must give the City an opportunity to seek protective relief.
· Flock must use reasonable efforts to narrow, resist, quash, or otherwise challenge any legal process where data are requested that would conflict with their contract with the City.
· The City is given at all times on-demand access to audit logs within Flock, which would include any searches of City data by users within or outside the City
· The City may terminate the contract without penalty or fee if Flock violates any of these assurances, and the City would receive a refund of fees paid.
Restricted Access
The city has limited the access to its Flock data so that no federal agency, no agency outside of Ohio, and no agency with a 287(g) cooperative agreement with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may access Shaker’s data. The City has contacted all 434 jurisdictions that have requested access to Shaker Flock data and required them to verify their agreement to the City’s restrictions regarding immigration-related searches and use of data, and is awaiting their responses. Those agencies t do not agree will be removed from access to Shaker’s Flock data.
New Internal Policies
The police department has adopted strict internal policies regarding officer use of Flock data. Usage must abide by all other policies of the Department, including its Immigration Enforcement Policy. Access to data must be linked to a specific Department case number or undercover case identifier.
The city first entered into an MOU with the company in February 2022, to allow the City to have access to Flock cameras outside the City. Then in March 2022, the city installed six Flock LPRs. The city now has 18 Flock LPRs at major entrances to Shaker Heights.
Shaker Heights Police Chief Wayne Hudson and Lieutenant Troy Allison gave a presentation to City Council regarding Flock technology at Council’s May 11, 2026 work session, viewable here: https://shakerheightsoh.new.swagit.com/videos/387359.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply