Franklin County
County record. Includes every city and agency within Franklin County.
Technology presence
What these categories mean
- ALPR
- Automated license plate readers (ALPR): camera systems that automatically capture, read, and log vehicle license plates with location and time, producing a searchable record of vehicle movements.
- Fixed cameras & RTCC
- Agency-operated fixed video cameras and the real-time crime centers (RTCC) that aggregate live and recorded feeds for monitoring. Extends the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Atlas, which enumerates real-time crime centers and camera registries but not standalone fixed-camera estates.
- Face recognition
- Software that matches faces in images or video against a reference database to identify or verify individuals.
- Drones / UAS
- Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), commonly called drones, operated by an agency for overhead observation, imaging, or sensing.
- Gunshot detection
- Networks of acoustic sensors that detect and locate suspected gunfire and alert an agency.
- Body-worn & dashcam
- Officer body-worn and in-vehicle dashboard cameras that record encounters; public access to the footage is frequently restricted.
- Doorbell & camera registry
- Programs that give an agency access to privately owned camera footage: doorbell-camera partnerships, citizen camera registries, and private-camera integration platforms.
- Cell-site simulators
- Devices that mimic cell towers to locate or identify nearby mobile phones. They are often called Stingrays, or IMSI catchers after the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number that identifies each phone on a network. Adjacent: communications surveillance outside the visual/sensor core.
- Predictive policing
- Software that forecasts where crime may occur or who may be involved, to direct policing. Adjacent: analytics rather than a sensing deployment.
- Social-media monitoring
- Tools that collect and analyze public social-media activity for an agency. Adjacent: open-source/communications monitoring outside the visual/sensor core.
The record, by agency
Bexley Police Department
The Bexley Police Department operates nine Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of September 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
The Bexley Police Department operates a Condor camera from Flock Safety as of September 2025. The camera is paired with video analytics software.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
Clinton Township Police Department
The Clinton Township Police Department operates seven Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of September 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
The Clinton Township Police Department received a $29,208 grant to purchase body-worn cameras in 2025 from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyGovernor Mike DeWine's X account
Lithopolis Police Department
The Lithopolis Police Department operates six Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of September 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
New Albany Police Department
The New Albany Police Department operates 14 Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of September 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
Upper Arlington Police Department
The Upper Arlington Police Department operates 21 Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of September 2025.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Pittsboro Police Department
Dublin Police Department
The Dublin Police Department operates a Drone as First Responder program.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): City of DublinWSYXwww.flickr.com
As of April 2024, the Dublin Police Department operates 19 Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
The Dublin Police Department received a $64,016 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyOhio Governor's Office
Minerva Park Police Department
The Minerva Park Police Department operates 5 Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of June 2025. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock Safety
The Minerva Park Police Department received a $23,864 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyOhio Governor's Office
Gahanna Police Department
The Gahanna Police Department installed 21 Flock Safety license plate readers throughout Gahanna.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Columbus Dispatch
Columbus Division of Police
The Columbus Division of Police received a state grant for automated license plate reader technology in 2024. The agency signed a 5-year contract in 2022 with Axon that includes more than 2,000 body worn cameras and 460 in-car camera systems with automated license plate recognition in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Cision PR NewswireState of Ohio
In March 2022, the Columbus City Council approved a three-year, $7.4 million contract to purchase 2,105 body-worn cameras, automated license plate readers, and other gear from Axon.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Columbus DispatchCision PR Newswire
The Columbus Police Department has used ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology since 2018.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): The Columbus DispatchColumbus Police Department
Whitehall Police Department
The Whitehall Police Department operates 25 Flock Safety automated license plate readers as of April 2024. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
Whitehall Police Department uses the Fusus camera registry system.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): 404 Media
The Whitehall Police Department uses Flock Safety gunshot detection technology.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock Safety
Westerville Police Department
As of April 2024, the Westerville Police Department operates 21 Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
The Westerville Police Department received a $130,000 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022. In 2019, the agency purchased 90 body-worn cameras from Axon for $196,500.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Westerville Police DepartmentThisWeek Community NewsOhio Department of Public Safety
Grandview Heights Police Department
The Grandview Heights Police Department received a $238,155.40 state grant to buy automated license plate readers in 2024. As of April 2024, the Grandview Heights Police Department operates eight Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
Hilliard Police Department
As of April 2024, the Hilliard Police Department operates 18 Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
Worthington Police Department
As of April 2024, the Worthington Police Department operates 10 Flock Safety automated license plate readers. The agency stores ALPR data for 30 days.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Flock SafetyThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer
Madison Township Police Department
The Madison Township Police Department received more than $32,000 in grant funds for the Ohio's Governor's Office for body-worn cameras in 2023.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Governor's OfficeWTVG
Columbus State Community College Police Department
The Columbus State Community College Police Department received a Small, Rural, and Tribal Body-Worn Camera Program grant for $38,884.00 for 35 body-worn cameras in 2023.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Justice & Security StrategiesJustice & Security Strategies
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General has organized an effort to deploy the Fusus real-time crime center statewide as part of its Technology Anonymized Law Enforcement Notification (TALEN) project.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Government Technology
Reynoldsburg Police Department
The Reynoldsburg Police Department installed 22 Flock Safety automated license plate readers in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): WOSU
Groveport Police Department
The Groveport Police Department acquired 10 Flock Safety automated license plate readers in 2023.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Columbus Messenger
The Groveport Police Department received a $58,856 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyOhio Governor's Office
Grove City Police Department
The Grove City Police Department purchased 65 body-worn cameras for $601,700 from Utility Associates, Inc. in 2022. In January 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded $58,976.28 to the Grove City Police Department for expenses associated with launching or maintaining body-worn camera programs. The agency received an additional $90,931 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in December 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Office of the GovernorOffice of the GovernorOhio Department of Public Safety
The Grove City Police Department uses automated license plate readers.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Sergeant Richard Forney testimonyThe Columbus Dispatch
Blendon Township Police Department
In January 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded $19,224.00 to the Blendon Township Police Department for expenses associated with launching or maintaining body-worn camera programs. The Blendon Township Police Department received an additional $19,224 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in December 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Office of the GovernorOffice of the GovernorOhio Department of Public Safety
Gahanna Division of Police
The Gahanna Division of Police received a $76,050 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyOhio Governor's Office
Mifflin Township Police Department
The Mifflin Township Police Department received a $6,442 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyOhio Governor's Office
Perry Township Police Department
The Perry Township Police Department received a $37,865 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyOhio Governor's Office
Sharon Township Police Department
The Sharon Township Police Department received a $23,520 grant for body-worn cameras from the Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Ohio Department of Public SafetyOhio Governor's Office
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ohio Department of Natural Resources officers use WatchGuard body-worn cameras.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): WLIO
Ohio State Highway Patrol
The Ohio State Highway Patrol plans to equip all 1,500 state troopers with body-worn cameras by May 2022.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): The VindicatorWLCT
The Ohio State Highway Patrol had 18 mobile automated license plate reader units, 19 ALPR fixed units as of November 2017.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Cleveland.comThe Columbus Dispatch
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
In January 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded $232,200.00 to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for expenses associated with launching or maintaining body-worn camera programs.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Office of the GovernorOffice of the Governor
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office operates three drones as of 2017, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegesheriff.franklincountyohio.govwww.facebook.com
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office announced its proposal for a Real-Time Crime Center in 2019. According to news reports, the City of Columbus passed a bond package that included funding for the RTCC, which authorized the implementation of a video center staffed by a team of officers, detectives, crime analysts and an intelligent unit. The RTCC would access automated license plate readers, media and Live Earth—a digital platform that pulls real-time data into a live 3D map of the county.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): WBNS Channel 10City of Columbus
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office obtained 25 automated license plate readers in 2012.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): The Columbus Dispatch
Hillard Division of Police
In January 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded $58,830.00 to the Hillard Division of Police for expenses associated with launching or maintaining body-worn camera programs.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Office of the GovernorOffice of the Governor
Obetz Police Department
In January 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded $75,959.36 to the Obetz Police Department for expenses associated with launching or maintaining body-worn camera programs.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Office of the GovernorOffice of the Governor
Upper Arlington Police Division
In January 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded $62,355.00 to the Upper Arlington Police Division for expenses associated with launching or maintaining body-worn camera programs.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Office of the GovernorOffice of the Governor
Whitehall Division of Police
In January 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded $46,675.00 to the Whitehall Division of Police for expenses associated with launching or maintaining body-worn camera programs.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Office of the GovernorOffice of the Governor
Grandview Heights Division of Police
The Grandview Heights Division of Police bought body-worn cameras for $65,200 in 2021.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) shared access to driver's license photos with law enforcement and federal government agencies for face recognition purposes until access was paused in late 2019. However, as of September 2019, the images are still shared with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which can search on behalf of other agencies.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Electronic Frontier Foundation
Hilliard Division of Police
The Hillard Division of Police Department operates one drone as of 2019, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegehilliardohio.gov
The Hillard Division of Police maintains a voluntary registry of private and personal surveillance cameras.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): City of Hillard
Ohio Attorney General's Office
The Ohio Attorney General's Office operates six drones, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegefox8.com
Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation
The Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation, Special Investigations Department, Digital Forensics Unit operates one drone as of 2019, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard Collegewww.bwc.ohio.gov
Ohio State University Police Department
The Ohio State University Police Division launched a body-worn camera program in December 2016.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): Department of Public Safety at Ohio State UniversityLantern TV
Worthington Division of Police
The Worthington Division of Police maintains a voluntary registry of private and personal surveillance cameras through Motorola Solutions' CityProtect platform.
Sources (via the EFF Atlas): CityProtect
Source: EFF Atlas of Surveillance (Electronic Frontier Foundation & University of Nevada, Reno — Reynolds School of Journalism) · CC BY 4.0 · retrieved July 2026