Transparency Through Accountability

The Wapakoneta Police Department is proud to introduce the Flock Safety Transparency Portal as part of our ongoing commitment to responsible policing, accountability, and public trust.

The Flock Safety Transparency Portal is a public-facing web page that local law enforcement agencies can use to display how they use Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera systems. It provides live data, usage statistics, agency policies, and searchable audit logs showing search reasons and case numbers.

Public safety and individual privacy should go hand in hand. This portal gives residents the opportunity to learn how the Flock Safety camera system is used, the policies that govern its use, and the safeguards in place to ensure it is used appropriately.

The portal includes information about:

• How the technology assists in locating stolen vehicles, missing persons, and vehicles connected to serious criminal investigations.

• Real-world examples of how the system has helped law enforcement protect communities.

• How the technology works and what information it does—and does not—collect.

• Common questions and misconceptions about Flock cameras.

• Who is authorized to use the system, when it may be accessed, and the accountability measures in place to ensure every search is conducted for a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

As an added measure of transparency, every search conducted by the Wapakoneta Police Department through the Flock system is publicly recorded in the Transparency Portal. Residents can view when the system was accessed, the general law enforcement purpose for the search—such as a stolen vehicle, missing person, or criminal investigation—and the agency that conducted it. This level of visibility helps ensure the system is used appropriately and reinforces our commitment to accountability.

Flock cameras do not use facial recognition technology and do not identify or track individuals. They capture objective information about vehicles, such as license plates, make, model, color, and other visible characteristics, to generate investigative leads when a crime has occurred.

We recognize that transparency is essential to maintaining public confidence. By making information about the system, its policies, and every authorized search available through the Transparency Portal, we hope to provide clarity, answer questions, and continue earning the trust of the community we are privileged to serve.