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Council questions Fairfield County Sheriff on Flock camera data; law director cites contract language
Summary
At its June 1 meeting, Canal Winchester City Council questioned the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office about use and sharing of Flock surveillance-camera data. Sgt. Strawn described agency access and success stories; Law Director Boggs said the city's subscription agreement states Flock does not sell customer data.
Canal Winchester City Council pressed the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office on June 1 about how the town's Flock surveillance cameras are used and whether footage is shared or sold.
Council President Laurie Amick asked a series of questions about the cameras' use, auditing and data-sharing practices. Sgt. Strawn of the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office replied that "Flock itself maintains all of the data" and that access is shared with participating agencies throughout Central Ohio. He said the system is useful for law enforcement and recounted recent successes: identifying a suspect vehicle involved in a string of burglaries and locating a vehicle tied to an armed-robbery alert, which led to an apprehension.
Amick also asked whether any data is sold. Sgt. Strawn said, "I cannot answer that. I honestly do not know." Detwiler asked how residents could find more information; Sgt. Strawn suggested residents can find information on Flock's website.
Law Director Boggs told council he had reviewed the city's subscription agreement with Flock and said the contract indicates that "Flock does not sell customer data or customer-generated data collected through their service." Boggs also requested a brief executive session during the meeting for a separate legal discussion.
Supporters on council framed the cameras as a public-safety tool: Council member Richard Moore thanked deputies for their work and Council member Patrick Shea said he would support adding cameras in the budget if they prove helpful. Opponents or formal privacy concerns were not recorded in the transcript for this meeting.
The city provided no further details at the meeting about whether any independent audit of data access or sharing occurs beyond the vendor and participating agencies' access; Sgt. Strawn characterized participation as similar to mutual aid among neighboring jurisdictions. The council later adjourned to an executive session and returned before adjourning for the evening.
