OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla., March 4, 2026—The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is increasing transparency and public accountability by launching a link to a Flock Safety Transparency Portal on its agency website.

The Sheriff’s Office began using the Flock Safety license plate reader system in 2021 to increase the agency’s effectiveness in locating and detecting stolen vehicles and missing or wanted persons. There are now 80 cameras in use throughout the county, according to the site.

The public-facing portal provides information about how the Sheriff’s Office uses Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras and outlines the policies and safeguards in place to ensure responsible use of the technology.

The portal is designed to build public trust by offering visibility into the agency’s license plate reader program.

Information available on the portal includes:

• Usage policies – documentation outlining how OCSO uses license plate reader cameras in criminal investigations
• Audit logs – records showing when and why data is accessed, helping ensure accountability and prevent misuse
• Data sharing information – details on which authorized agencies may have access to data
• Camera capabilities – an explanation of what the cameras detect—such as license plates and vehicle make, model and color—and clarification on what they do not do, including facial recognition
• Data retention policies – information on how long data is stored before it is deleted (30 days)

Also included on the site is General Order 22.11 that outlines the license plate reader program and the procedures used by OCSO.

Flock Safety cameras are used to assist law enforcement in identifying vehicles connected to criminal activity, locating stolen vehicles and advancing investigations in a timely and efficient manner, according to the order.

Sheriff Eric Aden emphasized the importance of transparency and public awareness regarding the use of technology in policing.

“Our goal is to protect our community while being fully transparent about the tools we use,” he said. “This portal gives citizens direct access to information about how our license plate reader technology works, how it’s monitored, and the safeguards in place to ensure it is used appropriately.” 

Aden has also released a video statement alongside the launch to outline the agency’s commitment to responsible technology use.

Staff and OCSO news release