Civil rights and ALPR misuse

Texas · October 15, 2026 · Covering Katy News

Katy records report finds no documented audits before officer's ex-wife complained

Covering Katy News obtained police responses and policy versions showing no documented audits of former officer Sergio Guadalupe Rodriguez's searches before his ex-wife's October 2025 complaint. A September 25, 2025 policy file added recurring audit requirements, but its effective date and actual implementation remain unclear. Police say they enabled automated Audit Assistance and additional protections in June 2026. These reported records distinguish manual audit logs, written requirements and later automated safeguards. Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty; the report does not establish guilt or a judicial finding about departmental oversight.

Read Covering Katy News

Ohio · October 16, 2026 · FOX19 / Jennifer Edwards Baker

Sharonville lieutenant resigns and pleads not guilty after alleged personal Flock searches

FOX19 reports that Walter Cordes resigned October 15 and, through lawyer Stew Mathews, entered a written not-guilty plea October 16. The prosecutor's October 13 announcement alleges 29 personal searches between December 2024 and April 2026, discovered through self-reporting during an audit. The charge is not a conviction. FOX19's direct interview with defense counsel adds surrender, bond and an October 27 scheduling conference to the earlier indictment coverage. The resignation does not terminate the criminal case or establish that the camera program ended. The docket number and filed plea remain under verification.

Read FOX19 / Jennifer Edwards Baker · Supporting source 1

Georgia · October 9, 2026 · Now Georgia

Coweta County resident alleges retaliatory ALPR tracking in new federal lawsuit

Tyler Murkerson's October 8 complaint alleges that Coweta County personnel used Flock searches and physical surveillance to retaliate for his earlier civil-rights lawsuit. The filing cites audit records but pleads persistent watch-list placement on information and belief. Now Georgia links the filed complaint; the public docket confirms the new case, not the truth of its allegations. Flock disputed the claims in an October 14 response to Ars Technica. No merits decision or class-certification order was verified. This is a distinct pending civil action, not proof of unlawful tracking or an additional adjudicated misuse incident.

Read Now Georgia · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2 · Supporting source 3

Georgia · August 27, 2026 · WIRED

A Georgia Cop Used Flock to Track 2 Other Cops, His Ex, and Her Friend

WIRED’s records investigation describes Alpharetta officer Dustin Bozzo’s alleged searches for a former partner and another officer. He resigned after an internal investigation, while a criminal investigation remained open when the report appeared. This is a records-based account of allegations and employment consequences, not a conviction.

Read WIRED

Arizona · August 2026 · ABC15 Arizona

Apache Junction officer resigns amid investigation into plate reader misuse

Former Apache Junction officer Joshua McDaniel resigned after an internal investigation found improper personal use of Flock to locate his wife. Arizona’s Family’s subsequent records reporting confirms the name and describes an April 19 search and discipline for two dispatchers who helped. The police chief said McDaniel would otherwise have been fired.

Read ABC15 Arizona · Supporting source 1

Florida · September 2024 · fox13news.com

Haines City officer arrested for misusing Flock cameras to track estranged wife: Officials | FOX 13 Tampa Bay

Haines City officer Christopher Goodson was put on leave and arrested after an investigation revealed he searched the Flock database for his estranged wife’s car more than 700 times between September 1, 2024 and June 30, 2026.

Read fox13news.com

Georgia · July 23, 2026; alleged conduct April–July 2026 · WSB TV

Crime center supervisor accused of misusing Flock data to track domestic partner, charged by GBI : WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta

GBI announced that Conyers Real-Time Crime Center supervisor Paige Forte was arrested July 22, 2026, after allegedly using ALPR access more than 30 times to monitor a domestic partner. The charges are allegations. The linked reporting and GBI announcement do not establish the prior archive claim that she was fired; that employment outcome remains under verification.

Read WSB TV · Supporting source 1

Georgia · August 2026 · WSB TV

Sheriff’s office changes policy after another deputy accused of misusing Flock cameras : WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta

Deputy Jonathan Thomas was fired and criminally charged after an internal audit found that he used the Flock system to track the whereabouts of a person he was in a relationship with. After Thomas’ arrest, the Sheriff’s office announced it was imposing new restrictions on deputies’ use of Flock cameras.

Read WSB TV

Georgia · July 2026 · nowgeorgia.com

Habersham deputy arrested for misuse of Flock Camera System as Georgia cases continue to rise - Now Georgia

Deputy Christian Brewer was fired and arrested after an internal audit uncovered he used the Flock system to track the whereabouts of a person he was in a relationship with.

Read nowgeorgia.com

Georgia · June 2026 · Georgia Bureau of Investigation

GBI Arrests Former Ogeechee Circuit District Attorney’s Office Investigator for Stalking and Misuse of a License Plate Reader System | Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Andrae Wright, a former Effingham County Sheriff’s Office employee and investigator with the Ogeechee Circuit District Attorney’s Office, was charged with stalking and other crimes for alleged misuse of the Flock system.

Read Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Idaho · April 1, 2026 · KMVT via East Idaho News

Jerome County sheriff searched for wife’s vehicle; AG declined prosecution

Records reviewed by KMVT describe more than 700 searches for Sheriff George Oppedyk’s wife’s vehicle between July and mid-September 2025. Oppedyk said he was testing system reliability. In a February 11 letter, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office found insufficient evidence to prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt and declined prosecution; it did not determine that no crime occurred and said noncriminal policy violations were outside its authority. The April 1 report says Oppedyk announced an April 18 retirement, with transition assistance through August 7; it does not independently confirm those later events.

Read KMVT via East Idaho News

Illinois · July 2025 · patch.com

Lt. Jeremy Harrison Hopes To Win Termination Hearing Before Joliet Police & Fire Board Next Week: Ettinger | Joliet, IL Patch

Joliet’s police chief ordered Lt. Jeremy Harrison’s termination in December 2025 over alleged Flock misuse and other conduct. Harrison challenged the decision; Police and Fire Board proceedings were still pending in September 2026 reporting, when he sought court access to the hearing recording. His attorneys dispute improper Flock use. This is a contested disciplinary matter, not a completed criminal finding or an established final board decision.

Read patch.com · Supporting source 1

Illinois · September 2025 · lakemchenryscanner.com

Prosecutors say McHenry County police chief used Flock license plate reader data hundreds of times to track people he knew

Officer William C. Copp, who also served as the police chief of nearby Holiday Hills, was arrested after searching Flock for several former romantic partners and at least one of their new partners. Copp has been fired from his Prairie Grove position and his employment with Holiday Hills is under review.

Read lakemchenryscanner.com

Kansas · October 2022 · kwch.com

Former Kechi police lieutenant convicted on stalking charges

Kechi Lieutenant Victor Heiar pleaded guilty to computer crime and stalking after using Flock cameras to track his estranged wife.

Read kwch.com

Kentucky · January 2026 · lpm.org

Shively Police officer arrested for using license plate readers to track woman

Officer Asad Zahir was suspended and is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly searching the Flock system for his child’s mother thousands of times in the first several months of this year. Zahir was able to conduct the searches despite the woman having received an order of protection against him.

Read lpm.org

Louisiana · August 2026 · fox8live.com

Jefferson Parish deputy fired for misusing Flock camera to track ex-fiance’s vehicle, Lopinto says

After an inquiry from a reporter, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office fired Deputy Nathan Rome after determining he had searched for his ex-fiancee’s license plate thousands of times over several years. The ex-fiancee told investigators she was aware of the unauthorized searches.

Read fox8live.com

Massachusetts · August 2026 · newbedfordlight.org

New Bedford police officer accused of using Flock cameras to track and follow ex-romantic partner - The New Bedford Light

An ex-partner accused New Bedford officer Emily Pacheco of using Flock to track her and sought an abuse-prevention order. The union confirmed an internal investigation involving Pacheco. Police separately announced an unnamed officer’s leave but did not confirm that officer was Pacheco. The stalking and ALPR allegations remain distinct from any final criminal or disciplinary ruling.

Read newbedfordlight.org

Missouri · August 2026 · firstalert4.com

Brentwood officer accused of using license plate reader to stalk ex-wife

Brentwood’s internal investigation sustained policy violations involving an officer accused of tracking his ex-wife with Flock during divorce proceedings. The department sought outside review; St. Louis County police reportedly found no criminal-law violation. The internal policy finding, outside criminal review and former spouse’s allegations are separate conclusions.

Read firstalert4.com

North Carolina · August 2026 · WBTV / Gray News, republished by WDBJ

Mooresville officer charged over alleged Flock tracking of boyfriend’s ex-wife

Officer Elizabeth Snowman was criminally charged after allegedly using Flock cameras to track the location of her boyfriend’s ex-wife.

Read WBTV / Gray News, republished by WDBJ

Ohio · February 2025 · ccprosecutor.us

East Cleveland Police Officer Latasha Moore Indicted on Felony Charges for Three Separate Incidents in 2024 and 2025 : Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office

Officer Latasha Moore allegedly used a license plate reader system to find the location of someone with whom she was in a “personal relationship.”

Read ccprosecutor.us

Ohio · January 2026, July 2026 · abc6onyourside.com

Records detail Flock investigations of two Reynoldsburg officers

Reynoldsburg officers Alissa Birkhimer and Mark Nichols resigned before internal-investigation interviews concerning possible Flock misuse. Records later described Nichols’ unauthorized searches, including a former domestic partner’s plate. Birkhimer’s separate inquiry should not be treated as having the same findings or criminal outcome.

Read abc6onyourside.com

Pennsylvania · September 2021 · wpxi.com

MICHAEL MCSHERRY: Former police officer who tracked estranged wife’s car pleads guilty to stalking - WPXI

Officer Michael McSherry pleaded guilty to stalking charges after using readers to track his estranged wife and other family members.

Read wpxi.com

South Carolina · August 2026 · live5news.com

Another Colleton County lieutenant fired over Flock camera misuse

Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Kevin Smalls was fired after allegedly running 62 unauthorized searches on the Flock system for his spouse and other people he knew.

Read live5news.com

South Carolina · December 2025, May 2025 · fitsnews.com

Two Greer Police Officers Terminated for Abusing Flock Cameras, SLED Reviewing Allegations - FITSNews

Former Police Corporal Kareem Lynch was fired after an internal audit revealed he had allegedly used the department’s Flock system to monitor the whereabouts of a subordinate with whom he had a previous relationship. Former Greer Officer Sebastian Echeverry was fired after allegedly using the department’s Flock system for personal use. According to FITSNews reporting, “at least one of Echeverry’s unauthorized searches allegedly targeted his ex-girlfriend.”

Read fitsnews.com

Tennessee · August 2024 · actionnews5.com

Affidavit: Deputy used SCSO database to track ex-wife’s location without her knowledge

Deputy Thadius Gordon was relieved of duty after allegedly using an ALPR database to track his ex-wife’s location more than 100 times.

Read actionnews5.com

Texas · April 2026 · abc7amarillo.com

Court records: Fired APD officer tracked man who had dated colleague using Flock cameras

Officer Christian Eder was fired and criminally charged after allegedly using Flock cameras to track a man he perceived as a romantic rival 76 times.

Read abc7amarillo.com

Texas · January 2022 · ABC13 Houston

Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office lieutenant admits to improper use of Flock cameras per docs - ABC13 Houston

A Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant used Flock cameras to monitor the locations of multiple people dozens of times starting January 2022. One of those people was in a “contentious familial relationship” with the lieutenant. The lieutenant was suspended for two days.

Read ABC13 Houston

Texas · May 2026 · fox26houston.com

Flock cameras in Houston area face privacy concerns after Pasadena officer accused of misuse | FOX 26 Houston

Pasadena Sergeant Michael Palitz resigned before an internal investigation into alleged Flock misuse concluded. FOX26 attributed the claim that he tracked a female officer to Pasadena councilmember Emmanuel Guerrero. The allegation is not an adjudicated stalking finding.

Read fox26houston.com

Wisconsin · March 2025 · FOX6 Milwaukee

Milwaukee police officer resigns, Flock search misconduct case | FOX6 Milwaukee

Prosecutors accused former Milwaukee officer Josue Ayala of 179 personal Flock searches involving a woman he was dating and her ex-partner between March 26 and May 26, 2025. He resigned and was charged with one misdemeanor count of attempted misconduct in public office. He pleaded not guilty. The count and allegations should not be described as a felony conviction or established criminal guilt.

Read FOX6 Milwaukee

Wisconsin · October 2025 · fox11online.com

Menasha police officer accused of using license plate recognition system to track his ex

The original report covers Cristian Morales being placed on leave and charged after an ex-partner complained about Flock tracking. Later Wisconsin Examiner and WLUK/WTAQ reporting says he pleaded no contest, was convicted and received six months in jail plus three years’ probation on August 17, 2026. A judge denied release during his sentence appeal on August 19. The sentencing outcome supersedes the earlier allegation-only status.

Read fox11online.com · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

New York · September 9, 2026 · Times Union

Albany County investigator charged after alleged thousands of personal Flock searches

Sheriff Craig Apple announced that investigator Laurie Moore was charged with misdemeanor official misconduct and second-degree falsifying business records after an internal investigation allegedly identified more than 4,000 unauthorized Flock searches, about 3,000 involving a former girlfriend and others involving acquaintances. Moore and an unnamed supervisor were suspended, and database access was limited to supervisors. The accusations are pending criminal charges and sheriff's allegations—not a conviction or judicial finding; counsel was not identified in the report.

Read Times Union

California · September 11, 2026 · San Francisco Chronicle

San Jose officer fired after unauthorized Flock searches tracked a domestic-violence victim

San Jose police confirmed that an unnamed officer used a personal device while off duty to run unauthorized Flock searches in a family domestic-violence matter, located the victim's vehicle and shared the location with the officer's relative, who was the suspect. Chief Paul Joseph placed the officer on leave and later terminated him after a criminal investigation; neither the officer nor the relative was criminally charged. The department restricted access to Flock and other sensitive systems from personal devices, is testing additional auditing tools, and referred the matter to California POST. These are department findings and employment actions, not a criminal conviction or judicial ruling.

Read San Francisco Chronicle

Illinois · September 23, 2026 · ABC7 Chicago

Naperville internal investigation finds officer used Flock about 150 times for personal reasons

ABC7 Chicago obtained Naperville Police Department records documenting that Officer Oscar Maldonado searched Flock for Patrick Dowhen's vehicle approximately 150 times over three months in 2025. The internal report concluded by a preponderance of the evidence that Maldonado committed official misconduct, violated department policy and ethics rules, and admitted using Flock for personal reasons; investigators rejected his explanation that the searches protected him, his family and Dowhen's former fiancee. Maldonado retired May 1, 2026, before a disciplinary meeting, so the department closed the matter without imposing discipline. A court initially issued a stalking no-contact order at Dowhen's request, then dropped it after the men agreed to a two-year no-contact and no-stalking arrangement; that resolution is not a criminal conviction or judicial finding that stalking occurred. The Will County Sheriff's Office referred the evidence to county prosecutors in March, but the State's Attorney would not confirm an investigation and no criminal charge has been announced. Maldonado's attorney disputes that the conduct was criminal. Naperville updated its Flock policy this month and referred the matter to the state police training and standards board.

Read ABC7 Chicago

South Carolina · August 14, 2026 · FITSNews / FOX Carolina

Mauldin officer fired after records show 166 personal searches targeting a former partner

Separation records obtained by FITSNews and confirmation from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy show that Mauldin police fired Officer Ellie Hammond on August 3 after an internal finding that she used Flock 166 times between March and July to track a former partner's vehicle for personal reasons. Officials said the entries used false justifications including warrant check, traffic infraction and welfare check. The department had not publicly announced the case before the records reporting. The academy said Hammond was not arrested and no criminal charge had been filed as of August 14. These are agency employment findings, not a criminal conviction or judicial ruling. FOX Carolina subsequently reported that SLED opened an investigation on August 14 and still described it as active on August 21. No later criminal charge or judicial outcome was verified in the October 2 review.

Read FITSNews / FOX Carolina · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

Indiana · September 1, 2026 · WRTV

Former Jackson County deputy charged over repeated searches of one plate

WRTV reports that former Jackson County deputy Skylar N. Thompson faces one Level 6 felony official-misconduct count and one Class A misdemeanor fraud count. Prosecutors announced charges August 31 and allege he searched one plate 2,055 times between December 31, 2025 and August 2, 2026, entering city-planning or traffic-analysis reasons despite having no such assigned duties. A routine audit prompted the investigation. Thompson no longer works for the sheriff's office. The charges are allegations; no plea, judgment or complete court docket was verified. Stalking is not identified as a charged offense.

Read WRTV · Supporting source 1

Indiana · October 8, 2026 · The Kokomo Lantern / Patrick Munsey

Kokomo officer charged after audit finds alleged personal Flock searches

Kokomo Police officer Jeffery Bornes faces one Level 6 felony official-misconduct count and two Class A misdemeanor fraud counts. The department and Howard County Prosecutor's Office allege that Bornes used Flock 18 times over a 21-month period to monitor his then-spouse, labeling the searches as welfare checks even though prosecutors say they had no law-enforcement purpose. A September internal review examined more than 9,000 searches and attributed the 18 questioned searches to Bornes. He was arrested October 7, bond was set at $12,000, and he remains on administrative leave. The charges are allegations, not findings of guilt. An initial hearing was to be scheduled in Howard Superior Court 4; the case number, charging documents, plea, named defense counsel and later disposition remain under verification.

Read The Kokomo Lantern / Patrick Munsey · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

Georgia · October 8, 2026 · WSB-TV

Athens-Clarke officer fired after internal finding of personal Flock searches

WSB-TV reports that Athens-Clarke County Police fired officer Tyler Vaughn after an internal investigation found that he searched an ex-girlfriend's license plate numerous times over about one week in 2025 without a legitimate law-enforcement purpose. The department asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent criminal investigation and said it restricted Flock access to supervisors and other high-ranking officials. As of the October 8 report, Vaughn had not been arrested or booked. This is a completed employment finding and firing plus a criminal referral, not a verified criminal charge, plea or conviction. It is separate from the department's earlier Nick Barker matter.

Read WSB-TV · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

Illinois · October 16, 2026 · City of Warrenville

Warrenville announces investigation of possible unauthorized officer use of Flock

Warrenville's October 16 notice says police discovered information in September suggesting an officer may have used software, including Flock, for an unauthorized purpose between late 2024 and early 2025. The department referred the matter to the DuPage County State's Attorney and announced an internal investigation. The unnamed officer was already on unrelated leave and had not worked active duty for over a year. The city describes an ongoing criminal investigation, not filed charges, a conviction or a completed misconduct finding. The notice does not identify a target, specific searches or a program suspension.

Read City of Warrenville

Alabama · August 2026 · wtvm.com

Sheriff says internal audit found deputy misused license plate reader data

An unnamed Lee County deputy was fired after an audit allegedly revealed Flock misuse.

Read wtvm.com

Arizona · August 2026 · Arizona Family

Goodyear police officer investigated for possible Flock camera misuse

An unnamed Goodyear officer was placed on administrative leave after an audit flagged “concerning activity involving a potential department policy violation.”

Read Arizona Family

Georgia · August 2026 · Atlanta News First

Former Covington police officer arrested for alleged Flock camera misuse

Former officer Michael Canty was arrested for alleged misuse of the Flock system.

Read Atlanta News First

Georgia · September 1, 2026 · Atlanta News First

GDC special agent arrested after being accused of misusing Flock cameras

Georgia Department of Corrections special agent Robert Keim was arrested and charged after allegedly misusing a Flock license plate reader system.

Read Atlanta News First

Georgia · September 2, 2026 · Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Clayton County deputy charged after alleged non-law-enforcement Flock searches

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that Clayton County deputy Errol Farrell Jr. was arrested and charged with misuse of a license plate reader system. The sheriff's office requested the investigation after alleged non-law-enforcement use of its Flock system. Farrell surrendered September 1. GBI described the investigation as active and said the completed file would be provided to the Clayton County District Attorney's Office. These are allegations; no plea, conviction, charging document or final disposition was verified.

Read Georgia Bureau of Investigation · Supporting source 1

Georgia · August 2026 · Atlanta News First

Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators fired following Flock audit

Hall County fired investigators Justin Brown and Michael Atkins after identifying at least two and four allegedly unauthorized Flock searches, respectively. The August 25 report says Brown’s case was referred to GBI for potential criminal charges; Atkins’ internal investigation remained ongoing. It does not establish that both cases were referred or that either officer was convicted. In a September 30 announcement, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Justin Brown was arrested on two counts of unlawful ALPR use and two counts of violating his oath of office. The investigation remains active, and the Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney was appointed to handle the prosecution. These are allegations; the announcement does not establish a criminal charge against Michael Atkins.

Read Atlanta News First · Supporting source 1

Georgia · December 2025 · Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Former Echols County Sheriff’s Office Employee Arrested on Multiple Charges | Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Anna Altobello, a secretary at the Echols County Sheriff’s Office, was charged with multiple offenses after allegedly using the Flock system to search for people she knew personally.

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Georgia · July 2026 · CBS News

5 Georgia officers fired, arrested for misusing access to city's Flock cameras, GBI says - CBS Atlanta

GBI announced the arrests of five former Albany officers—Issac Whitus, Brittney Smith, Nicholas Richardson, Jade Jackson and Tytianna Davis—following an investigation into alleged ALPR misuse. The five were fired, according to the accompanying news report. Arrests and charges do not establish guilt.

Read CBS News · Supporting source 1

Georgia · July 2026 · CBS News

Another Georgia officer arrested over alleged Flock camera misuse as internal audits continue uncovering cases - CBS Atlanta

DeKalb County Sergeant Kabiru Salawu was fired and arrested after allegedly using Flock cameras for personal reasons.

Read CBS News

Georgia · July 2026 · WSB TV

Georgia deputy charged with using Flock camera to personally track license plates : WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta

Deputy Quin’sha Goss was fired and arrested for allegedly using the Flock system for personal reasons over a period of several months.

Read WSB TV

Georgia · July 2026 · Atlanta News First / Gray News, republished by WWNY

Officers accused of misusing Flock cameras

Atlanta News First reports that three Fayetteville officers were fired after an internal review found unauthorized Flock searches involving themselves, friends or relatives. The department requested a GBI criminal investigation; no charges were announced in the report. This WWNY page republishes the same underlying story and is not independent corroboration.

Read Atlanta News First / Gray News, republished by WWNY

Georgia · July 2026 · ajc.com

Officers fired for alleged Flock camera misuse in DeKalb, Henry, Fayetteville

Henry County officer Patrick Isbell was fired and criminally charged after using license plate reader data “for non-law enforcement purposes.”

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Georgia · August 21, 2026 · wtoc.com

‘There is no excuse for breaking that trust’: GBI arrests 4 former Savannah PD employees in Flock misuse case

GBI arrested four former Savannah Police Department employees: officers Marquis Dillard, Donald Phillips and Matthew Rich, and civilian employee Calandic Thomas. Each faced two alleged ALPR-misuse counts; the three former officers also faced oath-of-office charges. The August 21 report describes arrests and charging allegations, not convictions.

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Georgia · June 2026 · fox5atlanta.com

Internal audit exposes Cherokee deputies misusing license plate readers | FOX 5 Atlanta

Lieutenant Chris Bryant was fired and jailed for allegedly misusing the license plate reader database. Sergeant Mike Creeden was fired and jailed for allegedly misusing the license plate reader database.

Read fox5atlanta.com

Georgia · October 2023 · CBS News

Cherokee County deputy fired, arrested for allegedly misusing Flock cameras, sheriff says - CBS Atlanta

Deputy Jerry Shellhouse was fired and charged for alleged improper use of the Flock system starting in October 2023.

Read CBS News

Georgia · October 2025 · WSB TV

Sandy Springs police officer terminated after allegedly using city’s Flock cameras for personal gain : WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta

Reserve Sgt. Francis Esposito was fired after transferring Flock data to a private company he also worked for.

Read WSB TV

Georgia · September 2026 · walb.com

Deputy in Tift County demoted after allegedly using confidential data collected by FlOCK camera

An unnamed Tift County deputy was demoted and had his access to sensitive data systems revoked after running Flock searches on himself.

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Georgia · September 2026 · walb.com

Hahira Police officer arrested over allegations of Flock system misuse

Former officer Daniel Lindsay was arrested and criminally charged for alleged “non-work-related” misuse of the Flock system.

Read walb.com

Illinois · August 2026 · ABC7 Chicago

Itasca police officer accused of misusing Flock license plate reader technology, no longer employed by department - ABC7 Chicago

Itasca said an unnamed officer was no longer employed following a Flock-related investigation, and records were referred for prosecutor review. ABC7 does not identify whether the officer resigned or was fired, so the former archive description of a firing remains under verification. No criminal charge or conviction is established by this report.

Read ABC7 Chicago

Illinois · August 2026, June 2025 · ABC7 Chicago

Flock controversy: Chicago-area police officers investigated for misusing Flock surveillance camera searches for personal use - ABC7 Chicago

Officer Cohen Piechocinski was accused of conducting multiple unauthorized Flock searches of his personal vehicles. His Flock privileges were revoked and the department is considering discipline. Officer Terrance Mastrino resigned in the middle of an investigation into alleged misuse of the Flock system triggered by an individual who had discovered their plate had been looked up on HaveIBeenFlocked.

Read ABC7 Chicago

Massachusetts · August 2026 · boston.com

Another Mass. police department places officers on leave over Flock misuse

Two unnamed Lynn officers were placed on paid administrative leave after an audit identified concerning Flock-search patterns. The August 20 report describes an investigation; leave alone is not a sustained misuse finding or criminal conviction.

Read boston.com

Missouri · August 2026 · kcur.org

Missouri police department axes Flock cameras after 'egregious misuse' of system | KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR

A civilian employee resigned in the midst of an investigation into allegedly “egregious” personal misuse of the Flock system.

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North Carolina · September 2026 · wect.com

Brunswick Co. Sheriff’s Office employee resigns amid investigation into Flock system misuse

An unnamed Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office employee resigned and was put under criminal investigation for alleged misuse of the Flock system.

Read wect.com

Ohio · February 24, 2025; underlying conduct in 2024 · wcpo.com

Former West Chester officer gets probation for evidence tampering

Former West Chester officer Michelle Berling pleaded guilty to evidence tampering involving Flock data and images and received five years of community control on February 24, 2025. This is a resolved criminal charge, rather than an allegation-only disciplinary report.

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Ohio · October 2024 · cleveland19.com

Northeast Ohio dispatcher’s alleged Flock camera misuse prompts new audit policy

A part-time Highland Heights dispatcher resigned amid allegations of improperly using the Flock system thousands of times over a period of several years.

Read cleveland19.com

Oklahoma · December 2024 · deflockokc.com

The Case Against Flock - DeFlockOKC

Records-based reporting attributes a three-day suspension to Oklahoma City Sergeant Keenan Heskett for personal Flock searches over several months. The live DeFlockOKC page no longer displays the exact original passage. Independent KOKH reporting corroborates discipline and describes an internal audit; a separate public complaint concerned another officer. The original claim that a public complaint triggered Heskett’s investigation remains under verification.

Read deflockokc.com · Supporting source 1

South Carolina · July 2026 · wistv.com

Richland County sheriff's deputy fired, arrested for misusing Flock license plate camera system

Former Deputy Russell Kenton II was fired and arrested for using the Flock system for non-law enforcement purposes.

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Texas · September 6, 2026 · ABC13 Houston

Records detail Deer Park detective's 165 personal Flock searches and 10-day suspension

Police records obtained by ABC13 say an unnamed Deer Park detective searched license plates 165 times from December 2025 through June 2026 for personal concerns unrelated to investigations and admitted the use violated department policy. The department suspended the detective for 10 days, moved the detective from Criminal Investigations to patrol, and restricted access to several police databases. According to ABC13's account of the records, prosecutors in Harris and Fort Bend counties declined a criminal investigation and did not believe the searches benefited the detective or anyone else. Those are documented departmental and prosecutorial positions, not a court finding or criminal charge.

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Texas · August 14, 2026 · ABC13 Houston

Deer Park officer disciplined after misusing Flock cameras, department says - ABC13 Houston

Deer Park Police said an internal organizational audit found that an unnamed officer violated department standards for appropriate use of law-enforcement technology. The department announced substantial internal discipline but did not disclose the officer's identity, the conduct, or the punishment in this initial report.

Read ABC13 Houston

Texas · August 2026 · kwtx.com

Temple Police Department officer resigns after unauthorized use of Flock camera discovered

An unnamed Temple officer resigned in the midst of an investigation into allegedly unauthorized use of the Flock system.

Read kwtx.com

Wisconsin · July 2026 · tmj4.com

Two Racine police officers under investigation for alleged Flock camera misuse

As of July 2026, two unnamed officers were under investigation for allegedly misusing Flock cameras in Racine County.

Read tmj4.com

Indiana · September 5, 2026 · WSBT 22

Michigan City officer resigns during Flock misuse investigation

Michigan City Police said a routine audit identified Flock searches that violated department policy. The officer was placed on leave and resigned before the internal investigation was completed, and police said the matter will be referred to the LaPorte County Prosecutor. The report does not identify the officer, the search target, a criminal charge, or a prosecutorial finding.

Read WSBT 22

North Carolina · September 9, 2026 · WECT

Former Wrightsville Beach officer indicted and arrested on misdemeanor ALPR-misuse charge

WECT reports that former Wrightsville Beach officer Tonya Baker was arrested September 9 after a New Hanover County grand jury indicted her on one misdemeanor count of misuse of a license plate reader system. The State Bureau of Investigation says its investigation remains ongoing, and the nature of the alleged misuse has not been disclosed. Baker is scheduled to appear October 12. The charge is an accusation, not a conviction or judicial finding; plea, docket number, defense counsel, prosecutor appearances, and case filings remain under verification.

Read WECT

North Carolina · September 8, 2026 · WECT

Wrightsville Beach officer no longer employed after department finds Flock misuse

Wrightsville Beach Police Department said an internal audit identified a discrepancy in one officer's access and that its completed internal investigation found misuse of the Flock system. The department said administrative action followed and the officer is no longer employed, but did not disclose whether the separation was a firing or resignation or identify the officer. The State Bureau of Investigation opened a separate investigation July 16, and the department referred its findings to the district attorney. At the time of this September 8 report, no criminal charge or judicial finding had been announced.

Verification limit: Employment separation and an internal finding are supported. The stated July 16 SBI investigation date was not visible in the retrieved text.

Read WECT

Georgia · September 11, 2026 · University of Georgia

UGA suspends and demotes civilian employee after unauthorized Flock searches

The University of Georgia Police Department said a periodic audit found that an unidentified civilian IT employee ran two unauthorized Flock searches in 2025 concerning off-campus incidents in which he had a personal interest. Internal Affairs determined the conduct violated department policy but was not criminal. The university suspended the employee without pay for 20 business days, demoted him and removed his investigative-database access. These are institutional findings and employment actions, not a criminal charge or court ruling.

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Georgia · September 12, 2026 · The Roundabout

Milton police disclose two open ALPR-misuse investigations and one-year retention

The Roundabout reports, based on written September 11 responses from Milton Police, that the department identified two officer-search matters warranting investigation as potential ALPR misuse. Both investigations remain open, with no public finding, discipline or criminal charge. Police also said the city operates 36 Flock cameras, has plate-reading systems on 39 patrol cars, can search feeds from 15 private camera owners, permits access by authorized agencies outside Georgia depending on sharing settings, and retains city-camera data for 365 days after previously using 30 days. The publication separately mapped 55 reader locations inside the city using crowdsourced OpenStreetMap and DeFlock data; that map is not an official or complete city inventory.

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Georgia · September 11, 2026 · Atlanta News First

Braselton fires officer after internal Flock-misuse finding and refers case to GBI

Braselton Police said an internal investigation found that an unidentified officer improperly used the town’s Flock system during 2024 and 2025. The officer was terminated August 20, and the matter was referred to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. No arrest, criminal charge or GBI finding is established by this report. The department said a broader audit found no additional misuse, but the underlying audit has not been independently reviewed. Police said safeguards introduced earlier in the year reduced authorized users from 23 to 14, required a case number and law-enforcement purpose for each search, and instituted weekly search-log audits.

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Ohio · September 25, 2026 · Columbus Division of Police

Columbus police place a second officer off duty during Flock misuse review

Columbus police said their ongoing review found evidence of potential Flock misuse by Officer Stephen O'Brien, a 32-year department veteran, and relieved him of duty pending investigation. The release provides no allegation details, disciplinary finding, charge or court ruling. This is a second, separate Columbus investigation after the earlier allegation involving Officer Melvin Tellis; the city's Flock program remains paused.

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Ohio · September 3, 2026 · Spectrum News 1 Ohio

Columbus and Hamilton County suspend Flock programs for different reasons

Columbus paused its Flock program and commissioned an independent audit after police accused Officer Melvin Tellis of repeatedly searching one plate without an apparent law-enforcement purpose; the allegation remains under investigation and is not a criminal charge or court finding. Hamilton County separately paused 75 sheriff-controlled cameras serving the county and participating townships because Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey sought clearer sharing, storage and access guardrails; she said no county deputy had misused the system and described the action as temporary. The combined report does not establish permanent cancellation in either jurisdiction.

Verification limit: Two operational pauses are supported. The 75-camera figure and detailed McGuffey assertions require additional source verification.

Read Spectrum News 1 Ohio

Texas · September 27, 2026 · Houston Chronicle / KGTX 7 / City of Texas City

Texas City audit identifies 58 unauthorized searches by two police employees

At a September 23 special meeting, Texas City police presented results from a January-through-June review of about 11,900 Flock searches and said 58 were for non-law-enforcement purposes. The department said a civilian dispatcher made 42 searches to check on the dispatcher's child while the child drove the dispatcher's vehicle; the employee received a multi-day suspension. A sergeant made 16 non-law-enforcement searches for a purpose the department did not disclose; the sergeant was demoted to officer and suspended for multiple days. The Galveston County District Attorney's Public Integrity Unit declined charges, and both matters were reported to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. These are department audit and disciplinary findings reported by multiple outlets, not judicial findings. The 28 cameras remain active; commissioners adopted no restriction, shutdown, cancellation or removal. Police announced monthly audits and an expanded training and certification process, while contemporaneous accounts indicate implementation was still under way.

Read Houston Chronicle / KGTX 7 / City of Texas City

Virginia · September 30, 2026 · James City County

Former James City County officer charged with computer and ALPR misuse

James City County announced that former officer Androu A. Eskandar faces five felony and three misdemeanor computer-invasion-of-privacy counts, plus five misdemeanor ALPR-misuse counts. The county alleges nonofficial access arising from an internal matter involving coworkers. Eskandar resigned April 17, surrendered September 28 and was released on unsecured bond. These are 13 mixed charges, not 13 ALPR charges, and remain allegations. The department reports stronger access rules, training and random audits. No plea, adjudication or program shutdown was verified.

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Florida · September 22, 2026 · WSVN

Florida trooper fired and charged over alleged private sharing of surveillance data

WSVN reports that Florida Highway Patrol trooper Alain Fernandez was fired after his September 9 arrest on three felony charges. Investigators allege he sent Flock information and other restricted records to private individuals through text messages and Snapchat. The report says FDLE found the disclosures were not intended to obstruct a criminal investigation. This is alleged database misuse and private sharing, not a finding that all three charges concern Flock or that the recipients committed crimes. No plea or final judgment was verified.

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Illinois · October 5, 2026 · KWQC

Whiteside County sergeant resigns after internal ALPR misuse finding

Sheriff John Booker said the completed internal investigation found that an unnamed sergeant used ALPR data for personal purposes without a legitimate law-enforcement reason. Booker moved to terminate the sergeant, who resigned before the disciplinary process finished. The sheriff referred the matter to Illinois State Police, kept ALPR access suspended for all sheriff's personnel and said the office is strengthening policy and audit procedures. Whiteside County does not operate its own Flock cameras; personnel had access to data maintained by other agencies. This is a substantiated internal policy finding and employment outcome, not a criminal charge, judicial finding or proof that a particular person was tracked. The search targets, number of queries and possible criminal disposition have not been disclosed.

Read KWQC · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

Virginia · October 2, 2026 · VPM News

Chesterfield intelligence investigator charged after audit of Flock and state-database searches

VPM reports that Chesterfield County Police intelligence investigator Rebekkah Robinson faces two misdemeanor counts of improper law-enforcement use of an automated license plate reader and two misdemeanor counts of computer invasion of privacy. Coworkers reported suspicious activity August 27, supervisors audited Robinson's Flock and VCIN/NCIC queries, and her access was revoked before she moved from paid to unpaid leave. Virginia State Police obtained the computer charges, and county police obtained the ALPR charges. The department also announced a 30-day review of its police systems. The search target and purpose were not disclosed. The charges are allegations; no plea, adjudication, docket record or named defense counsel was verified in this review.

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Michigan · October 6, 2026 · WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit

Oakland County investigates former deputy's alleged post-employment Flock access

WDIV reports that the Oakland County Sheriff's Office is investigating an unnamed former deputy accused of accessing and using the county's Flock system after leaving employment. The sheriff's office said criminal charges were possible, while residents asked county officials for an audit. The agency did not disclose what records were accessed, any target, the timing or scope of the alleged activity, or whether access had been disabled. No filed charge, final internal finding, court ruling, program pause or discontinuation was verified. This entry records an open investigation and allegation, not confirmed misuse.

Read WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit

National · Updated July 17, 2026 · The Drive

Flock Says Its Cameras Worked 'Correctly' When Police Tracked and Ambushed Me for No Reason

Joel Feder describes his June 2026 detention with his wife in Plymouth after a partial plate entry, Flock alert and failed human verification led police to suspect a loaned Range Rover was stolen. The article also reports Tim Esterdahl’s separate July stop in Nebraska involving another similar plate. Flock said its system matched the supplied characters and officers should verify alerts; the Plymouth chief acknowledged mistakes. These are reported events and responses, not adjudicated violations.

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Arkansas · February 2026 · katv.com

Sherwood stop sparked after Flock camera misread plate by one letter as stolen

KATV reports that a Flock camera misread one letter on a couple’s license plate as matching a stolen vehicle, leading to a February 2026 gunpoint stop in Sherwood. This describes an erroneous alert and police response, not a court finding of liability.

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California · April 2021 · almanacnews.com

Atherton officer involved in the arrest of M-A student also named in lawsuit over 'unreasonable seizure' and use of 'excessive force' - The Almanac

After an ALPR misread a license plate that was partially obscured by dirt, officers detained the driver at gunpoint.

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California · November 2025 · timesofsandiego.com

Flock license plate reader falsely links San Diego man to crime

Times of San Diego reports that Hugo Parra, the passenger in a vehicle driven by Ariel Beltran, spent nearly one month in jail before charges were dropped. Parra’s attorney says investigators incorrectly linked the car to an attempted carjacking despite a camera capture five miles away. The account does not establish an adjudicated finding of police or vendor liability.

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Ohio · April 15, 2024; reconsideration denied March 20, 2025 · Justia

Smith v. Flock Safety: claims dismissed after a stop triggered by a stale hotlist entry

In Smith v. Flock Safety, No. 5:23-cv-2198, the Northern District of Ohio dismissed the pleaded claims against the vendor on April 15, 2024. The background involved a March 2023 stop after Cleveland police had not removed a resolved missing-person alert. The separate case against the township and officers settled. Reconsideration was denied March 20, 2025. These trial-court orders do not establish a nationwide ruling on the constitutionality of all ALPR searches.

Read Justia · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

Rhode Island · August 7, 2026 · ACLU of Rhode Island

ACLU letter cites alleged false identification from a Cumberland Flock image

An August 7 ACLU letter urges Cumberland to cancel its Flock contract and links the June 16 complaint in Pizzarelli v. Town of Cumberland, which alleges an unlawful arrest following mistaken identification. The attached police narrative describes comparing a driver’s image with a license photo and seeing a passenger. That supports human inspection of occupant images, not a finding that automated facial recognition was used. The false-arrest claim and ACLU’s legal criticism are not judicial holdings.

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Texas · August 2023 · ABC13 Houston

Harris County sheriff's deputies handcuff 2 men driving in Cypress neighborhood before realizing they made a mistake, victims say - ABC13 Houston

Officers misinterpreated a Flock alert and detained two innocent men at gunpoint.

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Wisconsin · August 2026 · FOX6 Milwaukee

Flock system mix-up, Brookfield traffic stop of wrong person | FOX6 Milwaukee

Officers pulled over an innocent person with guns drawn after a Flock camera issued an alert for a vehicle that should not have been in the system.

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South Carolina · September 7, 2026 · Coastal Observer

Georgetown County reports 34 Flock cameras as attorney describes false stolen-plate alert

The Coastal Observer reports that Georgetown County's sheriff's office operates 34 Flock cameras, updated its ALPR policy during the preceding week, and is preparing a public transparency portal. A local criminal-defense attorney said one client was stopped after the system reported that his plate was stolen when it was not, and said the cause was never determined. The sheriff said his office has found no misuse. The false-alert account and the agency's no-misuse statement are attributed positions from interviews, not an official audit, court finding, or adjudication.

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Texas · September 28, 2026 · Institute for Justice

Federal jury finds Bexar County liable for surveillance-driven traffic stop

A federal jury in Schott v. Babb, No. 5:23-cv-00706-OLG-RBF, found Bexar County liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for a policy or custom that caused an unconstitutional stop, detention and search of Alek Schott after a surveillance network flagged his travel. The jury awarded $76, one dollar for each minute of detention. The Institute for Justice says trial evidence showed that a federal-camera tip was relayed through a law-enforcement WhatsApp group and that the stated traffic violation did not occur. Those details are attributed to plaintiff's counsel and the trial evidence it describes; the primary special-verdict form and final judgment were not available in the materials reviewed. IJ says it will seek an injunction. This is a district-court jury verdict against the county, not binding Fifth Circuit precedent or a ruling that every ALPR use is unconstitutional; final judgment, injunctive relief and any appeal remain pending or under verification.

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Wisconsin · October 6, 2026 · Wisconsin Examiner

Federal judge rejects excessive-force claim in ALPR-triggered Wauwatosa shooting

A federal judge granted summary judgment to Wauwatosa officers Evan Olson and Dexter Schleis on Willie Lee's excessive-force claim arising from a 2022 shooting after an ALPR alert identified Lee's recovered vehicle as still stolen. The court held the officers' force objectively reasonable on the summary-judgment record. It did not decide whether ALPR use was a Fourth Amendment search, find that the plate was misread or hold the stop itself unlawful. Lee's counsel said an appeal was under consideration, but no notice of appeal was verified.

Read Wisconsin Examiner · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

Colorado · October 6, 2026 · Axios Arapahoe County

Colorado woman files federal class action after Flock data led to false theft accusation

Chrisanna Elser filed a putative federal class action against Flock Group, Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Police Chief Bret Cottrell and Sgt. Jamie Milliman after police accused her of a $25 porch theft. The complaint alleges that Milliman searched a month of Flock records, treated Elser's vehicle movements as proof of guilt and refused to review exculpatory evidence before issuing a summons; Elser later used vehicle, phone and shop records to show she was elsewhere, and the summons was voided. She seeks damages and safeguards including warrants, case numbers, supervisor approval and audits. These are complaint allegations and requested remedies in a newly filed case, not judicial findings or class certification. Defendants denied or declined comment in the reporting, and no appearance or merits ruling was verified.

Read Axios Arapahoe County · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

National · November 2025 · Electronic Frontier Foundation

How Cops Are Using Flock Safety ALPR Network to Surveil Protesters and Activists

Supports review of purpose codes, political or First Amendment related searches, alerts, and cross jurisdiction use.

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Ohio · April 2025 · signalakron.org

Akron Flock cameras: What data is shared nationwide

Signal Akron found more than 37,000 poorly documented searches in five months of 2025 logs. In the separate Autumn Riddle complaint, searches included the reason “activist recording.” An internal review found inadequate documentation violated policy but did not find retaliation or harassment; the independent police auditor agreed the entries failed to explain an investigative basis. Poor documentation does not establish that every search was unlawful.

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Wisconsin · May 2025 · tmj4.com

LAWSUIT: Waukesha Co. man gets ‘Flocked’ after filing complaint against deputy

Multiple Waukesha County deputies performed more than 100 Flock searches of Napoleon Jones’ car, allegedly in retaliation for Jones filing a complaint against one of the deputies.

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Texas · May 29, 2025 · 404 Media

A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion

404 Media reported a nationwide search across more than 83,000 cameras for a woman who had self-administered an abortion. The sheriff later described a welfare purpose. October 2025 reporting on a sworn warrant affidavit showed an abortion-related death investigation and consultation about possible charges; a prosecutor advised that the woman could not be charged for taking the pills. A later supplemental report supplied the welfare explanation. These records complicate the sheriff’s account, but do not establish that the woman was prosecuted or that a court ruled the ALPR search unlawful.

Read 404 Media · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

National · September 23, 2026 · Reason

Fusion-center intelligence report monitored activists building an anti-ALPR network

Reason obtained a Commonwealth Fusion Center intelligence product describing online discussion of SparrowMap, a volunteer-built system that uses locally processed camera feeds to identify and publicly map government vehicles. The product was redistributed by a Wisconsin fusion center and said the Massachusetts center was sharing it for situational awareness. The document expressly said the center had no indication that people in Massachusetts intended to use the information for criminal or nefarious purposes. Reason argues that the report places lawful anti-surveillance activity within an emerging threat framework. That interpretation is investigative commentary, not a court holding or formal DHS finding. The records establish government monitoring and information sharing, but do not show an arrest, prosecution, search warrant, designation of SparrowMap as a terrorist organization, or adjudicated wrongdoing by its operators. SparrowMap's own published guide says ordinary plates are destroyed on contributors' devices, government-vehicle candidates require human confirmation before publication, and most remaining data are deleted after 14 days; those are project claims and architecture descriptions, not an independent security audit.

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National · February 10, 2026 · The 74

ICE Taps into School Security Cameras to Aid Immigration Crackdown

Shows police searches of school based ALPR data on behalf of federal immigration authorities.

Read The 74

Nevada · June 2026 · Electronic Frontier Foundation

Are Your Local Police Using Flock Safety ALPRs to Scan for Immigrants? | Electronic Frontier Foundation

EFF’s records analysis found Sparks police receiving Flock alerts from an NCIC immigration-violation hotlist populated by ICE, despite a local restriction on immigration-enforcement use. This describes alerts delivered to local police; it does not by itself establish that ICE automatically received alerts or that every match produced immigration enforcement.

Read Electronic Frontier Foundation

New York · August 25, 2026 · StateScoop

New York police agencies are searching Flock data to aid immigration enforcement

Reports local police searches of other agencies data on behalf of ICE and questions about stated search reasons.

Read StateScoop

Georgia · Updated October 14, 2026 · WJCL / Tia Maggio and Graham Cawthon

Savannah records reveal officer's Flock access shared with ICE-agent husband

WJCL's records investigation identifies Amber Harpe as the dismissed Savannah officer whose login was used by her ICE-agent husband. Its authorized CNN Newsource version reports an internal finding of 983 searches involving 97 plates across six states. WTOC independently obtained police confirmation of her firing and ICE confirmation of an investigation. Police told WTOC that GBI did not charge Harpe. These are reported administrative findings and an ongoing investigation, not a conviction or authorization for federal access. Exact termination timing and the complete investigative file remain under verification. This is distinct from the four previously reported criminal defendants.

Read WJCL / Tia Maggio and Graham Cawthon · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

California · September 8, 2025 · The San Francisco Standard

Records show more than 1.6 million outside searches of San Francisco ALPR data

The Standard reports that outside agencies ran more than 1.6 million queries of San Francisco ALPR data between at least August 2024 and February 2025, including at least 19 marked as ICE-related. The report does not establish how many queries returned records. Its assessment that sharing violated California restrictions is a reporting conclusion, not a judicial holding.

Read The San Francisco Standard

California · July 15, 2025 · ABC7 San Francisco

ABC7 reports possible unlawful federal ALPR sharing and Oakland’s response

ABC7 follows its partner The San Francisco Standard’s reporting that San Francisco and Oakland appeared to share ALPR data contrary to state restrictions. Oakland denied that its members provided information to ICE and said it was reviewing whether federal-related access complied with law. The report adds the department’s response; it is not a court ruling.

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California · June 13, 2025 · CalMatters

California police illegally share license plate reader data to federal agencies

Records based investigation of more than 100 instances of sharing with federal agents despite state restrictions.

Read CalMatters

California · June 18, 2026 · San Francisco Standard

Audit reveals hundreds of illegal searches of SFPD license plate reader database

Independent coverage of the San Francisco audit and improper federal and out of state searches.

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California · June 18, 2026 · KQED

San Francisco Police Audit Shows Feds Improperly Accessed License Plate Data Hundreds of Times

Direct support for examining federal and out of state searches of locally collected data.

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California · September 29, 2026 · San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco announces tighter access and sharing limits while keeping Flock active

San Francisco announced new departmental limits for police license-plate data while retaining its Flock program and 12-month municipal retention period. The Chronicle reports that officers will need leadership clearance and a demonstrated connection to a criminal investigation to access records older than 30 days, and that SFPD data will be removed from the Flock platform after 30 days to curtail sharing. The cameras remain active, and the first 30 days of access are not described as requiring the same approval. Assemblymember Matt Haney separately plans December legislation to criminalize improper ALPR-data sharing, but no bill number, filed text, penalty classification or enacted statewide rule exists yet.

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California · July 27, 2026 · American Community Media and ChicoSol

Chico PD Granted ICE and Border Patrol Access to Its ALPR Data

Records identified 20 federal agencies and more than 80 out of state agencies with access, followed by a full data sharing audit.

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Illinois · August 2025 · Illinois Secretary of State

Giannoulias’ Audit Finds License Plate Reader Company in Violation of State Law

An audit by the Illinois Secretary of State found that Customs and Border Protection gained access to Illinois license plate camera data, a violation of state law.

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Kentucky · February 2025 · wave3.com

DEA agent used LMPD’s Flock cameras to search ‘immigration-related terms,’ police say

A Louisville detective was disciplined after sharing his Flock login with a DEA agent in violation of city policy.

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Texas · August 2026 · cbsaustin.com

Pflugerville City Council denies new agreement with Flock Safety

Pflugerville authorities shut down and covered the city’s Flock cameras after an open records request by a city resident revealed that hundreds of outside agencies had unauthorized access to the city’s Flock data.

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Virginia · August 20, 2026 · 12 On Your Side / WWBT

Henrico pulls Flock camera access for 10 fire marshals

Henrico revoked Flock access for 10 fire marshals on August 18 after concluding that their fire department fell outside Virginia’s statutory definition of an authorized agency. The county attorney said the searches concerned legitimate law-enforcement work and identified no personal misuse. His concern that evidence might be inadmissible was a legal assessment, not a court suppression ruling.

Read 12 On Your Side / WWBT

Virginia · January 2026 · richmonder.org

RPD discloses sergeant violated Flock camera policy by sharing info with federal agent

The Richmond Police Department shared Flock data with the FBI, a violation of a departmental policy banning sharing with federal authorities.

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Virginia · July 10, 2025 · City of Richmond

ATF Access to RPD License Plate Readers Terminated | Richmond

Richmond’s official statement says it terminated an ATF analyst’s access on June 11 after discovering searches that RPD considered contrary to its immigration-enforcement policy. The analyst searched 49 distinct plates, returning more than 400 results; 14 plates were HSI-related. ATF said those inquiries concerned criminal rather than civil immigration cases and resulted in no apprehension based solely on the data. These are agency accounts, not judicial findings.

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Washington · October 21, 2025 · University of Washington Center for Human Rights

Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement

Detailed public records analysis of direct, back door, and intermediary access to local ALPR networks.

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Washington · October 22, 2025 · The Spokesman Review

Border Patrol and ICE tapped into Washington police surveillance networks

Reports direct and apparent back door federal access to data from numerous local Washington agencies.

Read The Spokesman Review

California · October 1, 2026 · Electronic Frontier Foundation / ACLU of Northern California

Audit logs prompt demand for Marin County investigation of outside ALPR sharing

EFF and the ACLU of Northern California sent Marin County's sheriff a demand letter and public-records request after Point Reyes Light reported that 2024 Flock audit logs showed access by federal and out-of-state agencies, including 254,131 outside searches in November. The groups contend that the access violated California law and the 2022 Lagleva settlement. The letter requests an investigation, compliance records, safeguards and public explanation. The audit-log access is reported evidence; the groups' legal conclusions have not been adjudicated in a new enforcement ruling, and the sheriff's full response and present sharing configuration remain under verification.

Read Electronic Frontier Foundation / ACLU of Northern California · Supporting source 1 · Supporting source 2

Texas · August 2026 · ktre.com

Second Lufkin officer cleared and returned to duty after ALPR review

A second, unnamed Lufkin officer was placed on administrative leave during the August investigation. KTRE reported September 14 that the Texas Rangers and Lufkin's Professional Standards Unit cleared that officer after determining the searches had legitimate purposes, and the officer returned to duty. This is a separate person from Zachary Klein, who later pleaded guilty. The earlier leave announcement must not be presented as pending or substantiated misuse by the second officer.

Read ktre.com · Supporting source 1

Arizona · August 12, 2026 · 12 News

City of Surprise suspends automated license plate readers over potential misuse

A routine audit identified an anomaly and led the city to suspend use during an investigation. A later department review cleared the officer and attributed the flag to a technical problem in Flock's internal audit system; see the August 26 follow-up record. The initial anomaly was not a substantiated finding of misuse.

Verification limit: Original 12 News URL failed to retrieve. No fresh factual certification of its summary.

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Arizona · August 26, 2026 · 12 News

Surprise officer cleared after technical glitch wrongly flags Flock searches

Surprise police said their completed review cleared the officer who had been placed on leave and determined that a technical glitch in Flock's internal audit system wrongly flagged the searches. This follow-up corrects the earlier potential-misuse report: no officer misuse was substantiated. Surprise's separate program decision remains tracked independently and is not evidence of wrongdoing by the cleared officer.

Verification limit: The original 12 News video returned HTTP 403 and could not be independently reviewed.

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