COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio law enforcement leaders are preparing to discuss new rules for automated license-plate readers, as Columbus and other municipalities keep Flock cameras offline amid concerns about privacy and alleged misuse by officers. Jay McDonald, president of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, said he will meet this week at the Statehouse with law enforcement groups and state lawmakers to seek “guardrails” for the technology. The Chiefs of Police Association, the Sheriffs Association and the Ohio Prosecutors Association have been invited, he said. Flock cameras scan vehicle license plates and allow police to search for cars connected to investigations. McDonald said removing the systems would make it harder to solve crimes, including violent offenses. He called for regulation as well as continued access, and said discussions could include tougher penalties for people who use the technology for purposes other than solving crimes. Columbus police have said the cameras played a role in arrests in 60% of recent homicide cases. That figure is the department’s characterization of the technology’s contribution; the available details do not specify the number of cases or how the cameras were used in each investigation. The city and some other municipalities paused camera use about a month ago following alleged misuse by several officers and growing privacy concerns. Columbus police have adopted a new policy that tightens restrictions on who can view camera data, set to take effect Sept. 30. The department has said it has not discussed lifting the pause. A Hilltop resident, who spoke off camera because of the controversy, told local television news that the cameras had made a significant difference to safety on the West Side. McDonald also acknowledged residents’ calls for transparency and accountability, saying he agreed those protections were needed. The debate puts public safety arguments alongside questions about how surveillance data is accessed and controlled. The planned Statehouse discussions could shape whether Ohio pursues statewide safeguards while leaving local governments to decide whether to resume camera use.