Board asks IG to revisit finding after officer accessed Flock LPR footage while off duty
April 08, 2026 | Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
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The board returned a complaint to the Inspector General for further review after committee members raised concerns about a Columbus Division of Police officer who accessed Flock license‑plate reader footage following a personal off‑duty traffic crash.
Committee 2 described the factual thread: the officer, off duty and outside his jurisdiction, accessed the Flock LPR system to preserve footage he believed could show pre‑existing damage on the other vehicle; the IG’s investigation concluded the officer did not share the data with non‑law enforcement and therefore recommended the allegation be found unfounded under Directive 10.01. "It was not his case nor his jurisdiction, nor was he on duty whenever he did these things," Anthony Caldwell said, explaining why committee members saw the access as outside the intent of the policy.
Discussion focused on whether the access constituted permissible "performance of criminal justice duties" under CPD Directive 10.01 or whether the officer’s action was effectively personal use despite no evidence of dissemination to an insurer or other third party. Members raised process questions — whether the officer should have arranged for the agency that had investigative responsibility (Ghana/Geana police in the transcript) to preserve footage rather than searching the system himself — and whether the policy’s language was ambiguous.
Given factual ambiguity about motive and jurisdiction, the board asked the IG to take additional steps and reconsider the determination; the committee also said it would be open to overruling the IG and sustaining the allegation if further review supports that outcome.
Why it matters: access to LPR systems raises privacy and policy issues: who may query law‑enforcement databases, for what purpose, and whether off‑duty access consistent with the letter and spirit of CPD directives should be permitted.
Next steps: IG to re‑examine the matter with the committee's questions in mind and return to the board with supplemental findings or a revised recommendation.
Committee 2 described the factual thread: the officer, off duty and outside his jurisdiction, accessed the Flock LPR system to preserve footage he believed could show pre‑existing damage on the other vehicle; the IG’s investigation concluded the officer did not share the data with non‑law enforcement and therefore recommended the allegation be found unfounded under Directive 10.01. "It was not his case nor his jurisdiction, nor was he on duty whenever he did these things," Anthony Caldwell said, explaining why committee members saw the access as outside the intent of the policy.
Discussion focused on whether the access constituted permissible "performance of criminal justice duties" under CPD Directive 10.01 or whether the officer’s action was effectively personal use despite no evidence of dissemination to an insurer or other third party. Members raised process questions — whether the officer should have arranged for the agency that had investigative responsibility (Ghana/Geana police in the transcript) to preserve footage rather than searching the system himself — and whether the policy’s language was ambiguous.
Given factual ambiguity about motive and jurisdiction, the board asked the IG to take additional steps and reconsider the determination; the committee also said it would be open to overruling the IG and sustaining the allegation if further review supports that outcome.
Why it matters: access to LPR systems raises privacy and policy issues: who may query law‑enforcement databases, for what purpose, and whether off‑duty access consistent with the letter and spirit of CPD directives should be permitted.
Next steps: IG to re‑examine the matter with the committee's questions in mind and return to the board with supplemental findings or a revised recommendation.
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