CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (AVC News) – Cambridge City Council heard from residents both supporting and opposing the city’s use of Flock cameras during a meeting Tuesday, with no action taken following public comments.
All council members were in attendance except Wolverton. Present were President Jeff Leonard, Milner, Zaleski, Evancho, McMillan, Gardner and Laughman.
Cambridge Police Chief Dave Peoples answered questions from council about the Flock camera system, including how long information collected by the cameras is retained.
Peoples said data stored by Flock is deleted after seven days, in accordance with the city’s retention period.
Peoples also provided council with a policy governing the city’s use of the Flock camera system. Copies were made available to members of the public at the meeting. AVC News has requested a copy of the policy from the police department following the meeting but had not received any information as of this morning.
President Jeff Leonard read information provided to council titled “Flock Camera Success Stories.” The document detailed multiple arrests and criminal cases in which Flock camera technology was used, including cases involving drug trafficking, arson and a registered sex offender. The document was accepted and placed on file.
Guernsey County Prosecutor Lindsey Angler also submitted a letter supporting the use of Flock cameras. In the letter, Angler said Flock cameras have assisted local law enforcement in cases involving cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl and have contributed to multiple felony convictions.
Angler also stated that, to her knowledge, no defense attorney has filed a motion to suppress or eliminate evidence based on the use of Flock cameras. She said the system does not violate an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights. Her letter also referenced pending state legislation that would establish felony penalties for the abuse of Flock information systems by an individual or law enforcement officer.
According to the letter, Flock cameras in the area are not used to issue citations or scan the faces of people captured by the cameras. Angler also said the cameras cannot be used unless a criminal case has been opened and cannot serve as the sole evidence of a crime.
The largest portion of the discussion came during the public comment period, when numerous residents and non-residents addressed council. Most of those who spoke expressed opposition to the use of Flock cameras in Cambridge.
Concerns raised by members of the audience included the retention and access of data, whether information could be sold or shared, the use of a private company to store information, third-party data concerns, privacy and safety, artificial intelligence, the accuracy of information captured by the cameras, public transparency and the use of taxpayer funds for the system. Some speakers also questioned whether money being spent on Flock cameras could be used for other city needs.
After public comments concluded, Leonard asked whether council members had any motions to bring forward.
No motion was made and no action was taken regarding the Flock camera system.
Mayor Tom Orr also presented his regular report, including requests from the fire department and financial matters to be considered by the Finance Committee.
Orr said work at Edgeworth is progressing, with hopes of completing paving before the end of the construction season. He also said barrels will be removed from South 11th Street following sidewalk work that has already begun, with the area expected to reopen shortly.
The city will hold its annual trick-or-treat from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by AVC News
