06/24/2026
From Attorney Michael J. Shaheen:
Attention Ohio Valley Residents / Flock Safety Cameras-
You may have seen all of the buzz recently on social media concerning cameras installed throughout our communities, and in particular, the Village of Bridgeport. As the Solicitor for the Village of Bridgeport, I am very familiar with this camera system. A similar system is also in use in the City of St. Clairsville.
Based upon numerous comments, it is clear that there is a lot of misinformation and/or uninformed comments regarding the installation and use of the Flock Safety Camera system. The purpose for this post is to try to alleviate any concerns by our citizens and residents here, in the Ohio Valley, while also dispelling any incorrect or inapplicable rumors or comments.
The Flock cameras are in essence automated license plate readers (ALPR). They are cameras made by an entity known as Flock Safety. They are primarily used by law enforcement agencies throughout the country to help investigate crimes and monitor vehicle activity. When a vehicle passes a Flock Safety Camera, the system has the ability to record:
(1) License plate;
(2) Vehicle make and model;
(3) Vehicle color;
(4) Distinguishing features, such as roof rack, decal, dent, temp tag, etc.; and
(5) Time and location of the sighting.
The system then allows for the information to be automatically uploaded to a searchable database that law enforcement investigators can use, if necessary, at a later date. Law enforcement agencies have successfully used Flock cameras to:
(1) Locate stole vehicles;
(2) Track vehicles connected to crimes;
(3) Investigate burglaries, assaults, robberies, and hit-and-runs;
(4) Assist with abduction cases;
(5) Receive alerts when a wanted or stolen vehicle passes the camera; and
(6) Reconstruct a suspect vehicle’s travel route after a crime occurs.
The Flock Safety Camera system does help law enforcement solve crimes in a quicker manner because investigators can search for a vehicle, even if they only know its color, make, or some physical, visual characteristic. As an example, Flock cameras in Belmont County have already served to locate runaway children that were in danger, recover stolen vehicles, and rescue a victim of human trafficking. The public should realize that these cameras are not being utilized for traffic enforcement, do not issue citations, and are not in any way intended to cause anxiety or concern for any law-abiding citizen.
It is our hope that the above information clears up any concerns for the citizens or residents of the Ohio Valley, and in particular, the Bridgeport, Ohio area.
