<div style="margin-top: 20px;"><img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/citylogo-police.png" alt="City of Columbia Missouri Police Department" width="175" height="101" style="margin-right: 5px;">
<img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/policelogo.png" alt="" width="98" height="121" style="float: right; margin-right: 0px; margin-left:20px;">
<div style="padding-top:40px;
text-align:center;">
<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
<br />
Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
</div>
<div style="clear:both; text-align:center; padding-top: 20px;">
<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">August 11, 2026</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Public Information Office <br />Columbia Police Department <br />City of Columbia <br />573.874.7652 <br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Police update Flock Transparency Portal</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Columbia Police Department has launched several updates to its online Flock Transparency Portal. The updated portal provides citizens with greater insight into how automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology is utilized in Columbia to keep the community safe, while strictly safeguarding privacy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Designed to keep Columbia residents informed about the deployment and usage of the Flock Safety system, the updated Flock Transparency Portal now features the following additions:</span></p>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Public safety audit case/CAD numbers have been added to the portal. To ensure maximum accountability, specific case/CAD numbers are now viewable to the public for every search conducted by the department over the past 30 days.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Top offense types are now available. The portal now displays the leading search reasons by CPD over the previous 30 days, allowing the public to see what types of crimes the technology is being used to investigate.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A new section highlights the data retention period for all information collected by the Flock Camera System, ensuring residents know exactly how long data is stored before being permanently deleted.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The portal now provides a current list of agencies that have access to data collected by the CPD Flock Safety System. The department strictly limits this data sharing to agencies in Missouri (this feature was added previously over the past several months)</span><strong>. </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">The in-state sharing only safeguard has been in place since the program started in Columbia.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A new section outlines the security measures and privacy compliance in place for use of the Flock Safety System.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">To combat misinformation online regarding ALPR technology, a new fact sheet clarifies what the system does and directly addresses common misconceptions.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A dedicated section featuring recent stories from across Missouri where Flock cameras have been successfully used to solve crimes and enhance public safety.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The CPD policy regarding the use of ALPR Technology has been added to the website. </span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Columbia Police Department remains dedicated to utilizing technology responsibly to protect the community while maintaining an open dialogue with the citizens it serves.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Residents are encouraged to review the updates and learn more about the department's use of ALPR technology by visiting the CPD official website and navigating to the Flock Transparency Portal.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Visit the Flock Transparency Portal: </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://transparency.flocksafety.com/columbia-mo-pd"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://transparency.flocksafety.com/columbia-mo-pd</span></a></p></div>
<br />
<div class="content"></div>
<br />
<div class="attachments"></div>
</div>
<div id="footerline">
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
</div>
<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
</div>
<style>
#pressrelease{ margin:20px; margin-top: 0px;}
.attachments{margin-top: -10px;}
@media print {
body {font-size: 90%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;}
#pressrelease{ margin: 0px; }
}
</style><p><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=9800">View this release on CoMO.gov or access a sharable link.</a></p><p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>Archived releases can be viewed online at:
https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/directory.php</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided at https://www.como.gov/Web_Mail/ </p><style>div{margin: 10px;}</style>