The City of Columbia invites residents to share their feedback on this page regarding the Columbia Police Department’s (CPD) use of Flock Safety automated license plate reading (ALPR) technology. Public input will be compiled and presented to the City Council prior to a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway.
Background: Following an eight-meeting public engagement campaign in 2024, the Columbia City Council approved a two-year contract with Flock Safety and adopted a Law Enforcement Oversight Surveillance Ordinance at the Oct. 7, 2024, Council meeting. The governing ordinance was built on model guidelines recommended by the American Civil Liberties Union, making Columbia one of only 26 jurisdictions nationwide recognized for enacting Community Control Over Police Surveillance legislation.
The Columbia Police Department is committed to being transparent with the public and has maintained a webpage for ALPRs and a Transparency Portal specifically for the use of the Flock Safety System.
Flock cameras use a combination of license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras and video cameras to aid law enforcement in criminal investigations. The license plate recognition cameras are designed to capture license plates and key vehicle characteristics, such as make, color and body type, to help generate investigative leads. The video cameras give officers access to live and recorded video feeds of public areas in Columbia. Data is never sold, and all video and images are deleted after 30 days unless it is part of a criminal investigation. If that is the case, the material is preserved as evidence.
The Columbia Police Department has deployed 85 ALPR cameras and 36 video cameras across the city. The Utilities Department and the Parks and Recreation Department have deployed an additional 16 cameras on properties they control; these cameras are managed by the Columbia Police Department. To protect system security and ongoing investigations, exact camera locations are not publicly shared. However, the police department has released a map displaying device distribution by Ward to maintain transparency.
The Flock Safety System has significantly enhanced public safety operations in Columbia and the surrounding mid-Missouri region. By generating hundreds of leads, the technology has proven to be one of the department's most effective investigative tools. Notably, the system played a direct role in solving several high-profile violent crime cases in 2026.
Additional information
Automated License Plate Readers: https://www.como.gov/police/automated-license-plate-readers/
Flock Transparency Portal: https://transparency.flocksafety.com/columbia-mo-pd
Law Enforcement Oversight Surveillance Ordinance: https://www.como.gov/archive/2024/10/ordinance-025792.pdf
The City of Columbia invites residents to share their feedback on this page regarding the Columbia Police Department’s (CPD) use of Flock Safety automated license plate reading (ALPR) technology. Public input will be compiled and presented to the City Council prior to a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway.
Background: Following an eight-meeting public engagement campaign in 2024, the Columbia City Council approved a two-year contract with Flock Safety and adopted a Law Enforcement Oversight Surveillance Ordinance at the Oct. 7, 2024, Council meeting. The governing ordinance was built on model guidelines recommended by the American Civil Liberties Union, making Columbia one of only 26 jurisdictions nationwide recognized for enacting Community Control Over Police Surveillance legislation.
The Columbia Police Department is committed to being transparent with the public and has maintained a webpage for ALPRs and a Transparency Portal specifically for the use of the Flock Safety System.
Flock cameras use a combination of license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras and video cameras to aid law enforcement in criminal investigations. The license plate recognition cameras are designed to capture license plates and key vehicle characteristics, such as make, color and body type, to help generate investigative leads. The video cameras give officers access to live and recorded video feeds of public areas in Columbia. Data is never sold, and all video and images are deleted after 30 days unless it is part of a criminal investigation. If that is the case, the material is preserved as evidence.
The Columbia Police Department has deployed 85 ALPR cameras and 36 video cameras across the city. The Utilities Department and the Parks and Recreation Department have deployed an additional 16 cameras on properties they control; these cameras are managed by the Columbia Police Department. To protect system security and ongoing investigations, exact camera locations are not publicly shared. However, the police department has released a map displaying device distribution by Ward to maintain transparency.
The Flock Safety System has significantly enhanced public safety operations in Columbia and the surrounding mid-Missouri region. By generating hundreds of leads, the technology has proven to be one of the department's most effective investigative tools. Notably, the system played a direct role in solving several high-profile violent crime cases in 2026.
Additional information
Automated License Plate Readers: https://www.como.gov/police/automated-license-plate-readers/
Flock Transparency Portal: https://transparency.flocksafety.com/columbia-mo-pd
Law Enforcement Oversight Surveillance Ordinance: https://www.como.gov/archive/2024/10/ordinance-025792.pdf
