Cleveland Police to Renew Automated License Plate Reader Contract

The Cleveland Division of Police is moving forward with a contract to continue using automated license plate reader technology to assist in criminal investigations. Through emergency ordinance 683-2026, the Director of Public Safety is authorized to enter into agreements with Flock Group, Inc. (doing business as Flock Safety) for the acquisition and renewal of annual licenses and professional maintenance services. This technology, which the Division of Police has utilized since 2023, is intended to support various law enforcement efforts, including stolen vehicle recovery, locating missing persons, and investigating violent crimes and hit-and-run accidents.

According to the 683-2026 Legislative Summary rev., the purchase of these licenses and maintenance services will cost $125,000, funded by the Division of Police operating budget. The 683-2026 PRESENTATION notes that the system captures license plate numbers and vehicle characteristics—such as color and type—along with the time, date, and location of a sighting, but does not record audio, use facial recognition, or identify drivers and passengers. To protect privacy, the Department of Public Safety stated that the technology is governed by Division policy, includes role-based access controls, and is not intended for generalized surveillance or monitoring lawful First Amendment activity. Data is typically retained for 30 days unless it is tied to an active investigation.

The ordinance has passed City Council. Residents can monitor the Division of Public Safety's progress as they work toward building a public-facing transparency dashboard regarding the use of this technology.

Source record

File
683-2026
Type
Emergency Ordinance
Status
Passed
Committee
City Council
Introduced
May 27, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents

Sources