Flock Safety Redacts Transparency Data Nationwide, Affecting Columbia

Columbia police's use of surveillance cameras faces scrutiny over missing data and lack of transparency.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a Flock Safety camera lens reflecting a bright flash of light, conceptually illustrating the lack of transparency around the police department's surveillance practices.The disappearance of transparency data around the Columbia Police Department's use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras raises concerns about accountability and oversight.Columbia Today

The Columbia Police Department's use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers and cameras has come under scrutiny after the company redacted transparency data nationwide, including details about how officers in Columbia accessed the surveillance system. Previously, the public could track why officers accessed Flock data and who was searching it, but that information has now disappeared from a publicly available webpage without notice.

Why it matters

The missing transparency data raises concerns about the Columbia Police Department's accountability and oversight of its surveillance technology. The public's ability to monitor how law enforcement uses these tools is crucial for ensuring civil liberties are protected.

The details

In 2024, the Columbia City Council approved ordinances requiring the police department to adopt transparency measures for its use of surveillance devices, including Flock Safety cameras. However, data tracking how the department uses the Flock network disappeared from a public webpage last December. This information previously allowed the public to see inconsistencies between policy requirements for officers to document searches and how they reported them in practice. Now, officers select a crime category from a dropdown menu instead of manually typing the reason for a search. Flock Safety also began redacting user IDs nationwide in December, making it harder to track which officers are responsible for searches.

  • In October 2024, the Columbia City Council approved ordinances requiring transparency measures for the police department's use of surveillance devices.
  • In late November, there was an influx of Flock searches made by the Columbia Police Department during Operation Brightside, a federal warrant sweep.
  • In December, Flock Safety began redacting user IDs nationwide, making it harder to track which officers are responsible for searches.
  • Last December, data tracking how the Columbia Police Department uses its Flock camera network disappeared from a publicly available webpage without notice.

The players

Columbia Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Columbia, Missouri that uses Flock Safety surveillance cameras and is subject to transparency requirements.

Flock Safety

A company that provides automated license plate readers and cameras to law enforcement agencies, including the Columbia Police Department.

Lance Bolinger

The assistant chief of the Columbia Police Department's Investigative Operations Support Bureau.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have a list of every search conducted in the past 30 days by our officers. This list is monitored by our Professional Standards Unit monthly to ensure compliance with our policies.”

— Lance Bolinger, Assistant Chief, Investigative Operations Support Bureau, Columbia Police Department

What’s next

The Columbia City Council and community members are likely to continue pressing the police department for more transparency and accountability around its use of surveillance technology.

The takeaway

The disappearance of transparency data around the Columbia Police Department's use of Flock Safety cameras raises concerns about the department's accountability and the public's ability to monitor how law enforcement uses these surveillance tools, which is crucial for protecting civil liberties.