Upper Arlington's license plate reader data has not been improperly accessed by federal immigration enforcement agencies, the police division said in a statement Aug. 5, responding to a Columbus Police audit that flagged more than 15,000 potentially immigration-related searches across that city's Flock camera network.

The Upper Arlington Police Division said it routinely audits both user and network activity on its Flock system and can modify sharing permissions when necessary. The department found no evidence that ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection or any other federal immigration enforcement agency improperly accessed or used UAPD Flock data, according to the statement provided to NBC4.

The statement came after a July 2026 audit of Columbus Police's Flock system reviewed approximately 19.6 million database queries conducted since late 2023. Auditors flagged 15,577 searches as possibly immigration-related, according to Matter News. Nearly all came from outside agencies, not Columbus officers.

One Columbus officer is under internal review after searching the system six times in a 10-minute window on Feb. 3, 2025, listing "ICE" as the stated reason, the Columbus Dispatch reported. The audit identified 14 additional searches by Columbus personnel categorized as assistance to Homeland Security Investigations.

Columbus has banned the use of city resources for civil immigration enforcement since 2017. In response to the audit findings, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther ordered police to halt statewide Flock data sharing.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said the division has shifted to one-to-one data sharing, vetting each agency individually before establishing a relationship. "We want to make sure that we are not contributing to anything that does not align with our policies and align with the city's policies," Bryant told NBC4 on Tuesday.

What it means for UA residents

Upper Arlington's Flock system has assisted in more than 200 local investigations since January 2026, according to the department. The division launched a public transparency portal on July 30, giving residents access to policies, usage statistics and privacy safeguards.

No public hearing or council review of Upper Arlington's Flock program has been scheduled. The Columbus City Council, however, will hold a public hearing on Flock at 4 p.m. Aug. 10. Council member Emmanuel Remy, who requested the audit, said July 30 that his team is still evaluating what safeguards are needed and cannot fully do so without hearing from the public.

Representatives from Columbus Police and Flock Safety are expected to attend that hearing.