BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – A national report revealing that Flock Safety cameras have been hacked in some parts of the country is raising questions about security and privacy. The Bowling Green Police Department launched its use of flock cameras in January of 2026
BGPD operates 10 Flock cameras across Warren County. The Warren County Drug Task Force and private businesses in the area also use the technology. The cameras capture photos — not video — of passing vehicles and license plates, and are used to support active investigations rather than to monitor for new crime.
‘Not done at the Bowling Green level’
An investigative report from KWQC, a Gray Media sister station, found that cybercriminals have hacked into Flock cameras in some areas to steal consumer information. However, BGPD said that has not occurred in Bowling Green.
“The Flock system is a company. We don’t have anything to do with how it’s built, developed, used, any of that as far as the company standpoint goes,” said BGPD Public Information Officer, Ronnie Ward. “So hacking things, people that hack into it, that’s done at the Flock level. It’s not done at the Bowling Green level.”
Ward said the cameras are not used for broad surveillance of residents.
“If you drive by the Flock camera, we don’t even know it,” he said. “But if you have committed a crime and someone gave us your tag or your vehicle description, it’s a good possibility we’ll find you. But that’s the point. It’s not that we can hunt you down and figure out what you’re doing.”
Photos deleted after 30 days
Photos captured by the cameras are stored within the department’s system for 30 days before being deleted. Ward said the department has no control over whether flock cameras are hacked at the company level.
He also said the program has produced results locally.
“This program has helped our community so much,” Ward said. “It’s already solved more than one homicide. It’s solved robberies. It’s solved counterfeit cases. It’s solved theft cases by probably a dozen or so. I mean, it’s been very beneficial to our community.”
BGPD said residents with questions or concerns about the Flock camera program can contact the department directly. Questions related to the national hacking concerns should be directed to Flock Safety.
Our team has reached out to Flock safety regarding a statement to this issue, but have yet to receive a response back.
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