{ "title": "Flock Safety & ALPR Misuse Master Database", "source_files": { "xlsx": "Flock_Safety_ALPR_Misuse_Master_Database.xlsx", "pdf": "Flock_Safety_ALPR_Misuse_Master_Database.pdf" }, "data_dictionary": { "Year": "Year (and Case_ID year prefix) is the canonical chronology key for this database: the year assigned when the case was first catalogued, usually the year of public disclosure, charging, or Case_ID issuance. It is NOT always identical to the year the underlying ALPR queries occurred. Use Incident_Year for the abuse/window year and Resolution_Year for arrest / plea / conviction / termination when known.", "Incident_Year": "Year or year-range when the underlying ALPR misuse / abuse queries occurred, when known.", "Resolution_Year": "Year of arrest, charge, plea, conviction, and/or employment termination when known.", "Year_Note": "Optional clarification when Year, Incident_Year, and Resolution_Year diverge.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Normalized legal/employment outcome class used for summary tallies." }, "summary_and_analysis": { "kpi_overview": { "TOTAL_UNIQUE_CASES": 39, "STATES_REPRESENTED": 16, "PRIMARY_ABUSE_TYPE": "Romantic Stalking", "TIME_SPAN_COVERED": "2020 - 2026", "DEDUPLICATION_NOTE": "Corpus is N=39 unique cases. Removed FLK-2024-031 as duplicate of FLK-2026-011.", "YEAR_DEFINITION": "Year (and Case_ID year prefix) is the canonical chronology key for this database: the year assigned when the case was first catalogued, usually the year of public disclosure, charging, or Case_ID issuance. It is NOT always identical to the year the underlying ALPR queries occurred. Use Incident_Year for the abuse/window year and Resolution_Year for arrest / plea / conviction / termination when known.", "PERCENT_ROUNDING_NOTE": "Percentages shown to 1 decimal place; largest share adjusted so category/year/state/outcome tables sum to 100.0%." }, "incidents_by_misuse_category": [ { "Classification": "Romantic Stalking", "Cases": 9, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "22.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.226 }, { "Classification": "Domestic Stalking", "Cases": 3, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "7.7%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.077 }, { "Classification": "Unauthorized Access / Personal Tracking", "Cases": 3, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "7.7%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.077 }, { "Classification": "Co-worker Stalking / Harassment", "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 }, { "Classification": "Flawed AI Recognition / Gunpoint Detention", "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 }, { "Classification": "Flawed AI Recognition / Wrongful Stop", "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 }, { "Classification": "Personal Tracking / Stalking", "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 }, { "Classification": "Conflict of Interest / Unauthorized Search", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Flawed AI Recognition / Excessive Force", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Flawed AI Recognition / False Arrest", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Flawed AI Recognition / False Stop", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Illegal Data Sharing / Mass Surveillance", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Mass Surveillance / Illegal Data Sharing", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Mission Creep / Low-Level Surveillance", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Personal Tracking / Unauthorized Search", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Retaliation / Political Targeting", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Romantic Stalking / GPS Tracking", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Romantic Stalking / Harassment", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Romantic Stalking / Physical Stalking", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Stalking / Kidnapping Facilitation", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Stalking / Unlawful Traffic Stop", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Unauthorized Access / Excessive Tracking", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Classification": "Wrongful Accusation / Flawed AI Evidence", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 } ], "incidents_by_misuse_category_total": { "Cases": 39, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "100.0%", "Percent_of_Total": 1.0 }, "incidents_by_year": [ { "Year": 2026, "Cases": 17, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "43.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.436 }, { "Year": 2025, "Cases": 10, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "25.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.256 }, { "Year": 2024, "Cases": 6, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "15.4%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.154 }, { "Year": 2023, "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 }, { "Year": 2022, "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Year": 2021, "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "Year": 2020, "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 } ], "incidents_by_year_total": { "Cases": 39, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "100.0%", "Percent_of_Total": 1.0 }, "geographic_distribution_by_state": [ { "State": "GA", "Cases": 8, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "20.2%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.202 }, { "State": "CA", "Cases": 6, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "15.4%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.154 }, { "State": "KS", "Cases": 4, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "10.3%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.103 }, { "State": "CO", "Cases": 3, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "7.7%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.077 }, { "State": "FL", "Cases": 3, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "7.7%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.077 }, { "State": "WI", "Cases": 3, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "7.7%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.077 }, { "State": "IL", "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 }, { "State": "TN", "Cases": 2, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "5.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.051 }, { "State": "AR", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "State": "KY", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "State": "MN", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "State": "MO", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "State": "PA", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "State": "SC", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "State": "TX", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 }, { "State": "WA", "Cases": 1, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "2.6%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.026 } ], "geographic_distribution_total": { "Cases": 39, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "100.0%", "Percent_of_Total": 1.0 }, "primary_legal_and_employment_outcomes": [ { "Outcome": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged", "Cases": 15, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "38.4%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.384 }, { "Outcome": "Criminally Charged / Indicted", "Cases": 9, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "23.1%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.231 }, { "Outcome": "Internal Disciplinary Action / Other", "Cases": 6, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "15.4%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.154 }, { "Outcome": "Civil Lawsuit / Settlement / Dismissed Stop", "Cases": 5, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "12.8%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.128 }, { "Outcome": "Terminated / Resigned (Employment Fallout)", "Cases": 4, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "10.3%", "Percent_of_Total": 0.103 } ], "primary_legal_and_employment_outcomes_total": { "Cases": 39, "Percent_of_Total_Display": "100.0%", "Percent_of_Total": 1.0 }, "removed_duplicates": [ { "Case_ID": "FLK-2024-031", "Reason": "Narrative matches FLK-2026-011 (Lamar Roman / Monroe County / TV-set ALPR stop). Removed to eliminate double-count and year contradiction." } ] }, "verified_incidents": [ { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-001", "Year": 2026, "State": "TX", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Pasadena Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Sgt. Michael Palitz", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Co-worker Stalking / Harassment", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Repeated ('Overwhelming Use' Flagged by System)", "Detailed_Summary": "An active internal investigation revealed Sgt. Palitz allegedly abused the Pasadena Police Department's Flock Safety license plate reader camera system to track and stalk a female fellow police officer. According to City Council Member Emmanuel Guerrero, the abuse involved such 'overwhelming use' that the automated system itself flagged the account and notified department administrators. Palitz resigned while under active investigation.", "Discovery_Method": "Automated system flag / internal notification triggered by overwhelming volume of searches", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Resigned from the police department in July 2026 while under active internal investigation; investigation remains ongoing.", "Reference_Source": "KPRC 2 Click2Houston Investigative Report (July 10, 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/07/10/pasadena-police-sergeant-resigns-while-under-internal-investigation-council-member-cites-alleged-misuse-of-flock-camer/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "KPRC 2 Click2Houston Jul 10 2026: Palitz resigned under investigation; Councilmember Guerrero alleges Flock co-worker stalking; Dept confirms investigation continues.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned (Employment Fallout)" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-002", "Year": 2026, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Albany Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Tytianna Davis, Jade Jackson, Nicholas Richardson, Brittney Smith, Issac Whitus (5 Officers)", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Unauthorized Access / Personal Tracking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Repeated (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "An internal agency audit revealed that five officers repeatedly accessed the city's Flock Safety LPR camera system for personal, non-law enforcement purposes. The officers used automated plate tracking data to monitor individuals without legitimate investigative justification.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal department audit of Flock ALPR search logs; requested GBI investigation", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "All five officers were terminated immediately and arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI); charged with felony violation of oath of office and misuse of license plate data.", "Reference_Source": "Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Official Press Release (July 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-07-06/gbi-arrests-five-former-albany-police-department-officers-misuse-license", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "GBI Jul 6 2026 press release confirms five former Albany officers arrested for Misuse of License Plate Data + Violation of Oath after Flock audit.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-003", "Year": 2026, "State": "WI", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Milwaukee Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Detective Tehrangi Chapman (Internal Affairs)", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking / GPS Tracking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "20", "Detailed_Summary": "An Internal Affairs detective assigned to investigate another officer's ALPR stalking case used MPD's Flock camera network 20 times between Jan 2024 and Jan 2025 to stalk two individuals. He logged queries under false justifications like 'training' and 'test', and secretly installed an unauthorized GPS tracking device on one victim's vehicle.", "Discovery_Method": "Victim report to police regarding stalking and discovery of physical GPS device", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Suspended with pay; charged by Milwaukee County DA in July 2026 with felony misconduct in public office and misdemeanor GPS device misuse.", "Reference_Source": "Urban Milwaukee / Milwaukee County criminal complaint (Jul 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2026/07/09/mpd-investigator-in-flock-stalking-case-now-accused-of-own-misuse/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Urban Milwaukee / FOX6 / TMJ4 Jul 2026: IA Det. Tehrangi Chapman charged with felony misconduct + GPS-device misuse after Flock audit during Ayala investigation; 20 searches logged as training/test.", "Incident_Year": "2024-2025", "Resolution_Year": 2026, "Year_Note": "ALPR/GPS misuse documented Jan 2024\u2013Jan 2025; felony misconduct charges filed July 2026. Canonical Year=2026 matches Case_ID / charging year.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-004", "Year": 2026, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Cherokee County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Lt. Chris Bryant, Sgt. Mike Creeden, Deputy Cynthia Jodesty", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Unauthorized Access / Personal Tracking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "A self-initiated audit by the agency's Real-Time Intelligence Division uncovered anomalies in Flock search logs involving two supervisors and one deputy. Investigation confirmed all three used LPR cameras to track license plates for personal reasons unrelated to official police duties.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal audit by Real-Time Intelligence Division", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "All three deputies were fired and arrested; charged with felony violation of oath of office and misdemeanor unlawful retention of license plate reader data.", "Reference_Source": "Atlanta Journal-Constitution / CBS News Atlanta (June 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/06/2-more-cherokee-deputies-accused-of-misusing-license-plate-reader-database/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "AJC Jun 2026: Cherokee deputies Cynthia Jodesty, Lt Chris Bryant, Sgt Mike Creeden fired+charged for non-LE LPR database misuse after audit.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-005", "Year": 2026, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Richmond County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Sheriff's Deputy (Unnamed in state report)", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Personal Tracking / Unauthorized Search", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "A Richmond County deputy was arrested and charged after an audit revealed they had used the department's automated license plate recognition database for non-law enforcement personal tracking.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal department database audit", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Arrested and criminally charged; employment terminated.", "Reference_Source": "Atlanta Journal-Constitution Statewide ALPR Audit Report (June 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/06/georgia-officers-misuse-license-plate-reader-databases-can-they-be-stopped/", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-006", "Year": 2026, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Greene County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Deputy Quinsha Goss", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Personal Tracking / Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Over 3 Months)", "Detailed_Summary": "A departmental audit found that Deputy Goss accessed Flock license plate readers to run searches involving at least one license plate for personal reasons over a 3-month period without any law enforcement mandate.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal audit of Flock camera search logs", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Terminated from employment; arrested and charged with violation of oath of office and misuse of LPR data.", "Reference_Source": "CBS News Atlanta / Greene County Sheriff's Office (June 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/07/more-georgia-officers-arrested-for-flock-camera-misuse-officials-say/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "AJC Jul 2026: Greene County Dep. Quinsha Goss arrested after Flock audit found unauthorized plate queries.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-007", "Year": 2026, "State": "WI", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Menasha Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Cristian Morales", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Morales utilized the city's Flock ALPR camera network to track an ex-girlfriend, running multiple unauthorized searches without legitimate investigative justification.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal department audit and victim reporting", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Placed on administrative leave; criminally charged with felony misconduct in public office in Feb 2026.", "Reference_Source": "The Marshall Project / Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council", "Source_URL": "https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/03/07/police-camera-wisconsin-california-colorado", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Marshall Project / IJ: Menasha Officer Cristian Morales; ex-girlfriend complaint; charged misconduct; administrative leave.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-008", "Year": 2026, "State": "KS", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Bonner Springs Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Detective Kyle Rector", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Detective Rector allegedly used automated license plate readers to track his estranged wife and two men he suspected were her new romantic partners without law enforcement authorization.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal affairs audit and victim complaint", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Criminally charged with multiple stalking and computer crime offenses in March 2026.", "Reference_Source": "KCUR Radio / Institute for Justice Review", "Source_URL": "https://www.kcur.org/news/2026-06-29/automated-license-plate-readers-alpr-kansas-city-lenexa-weston-police", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "KBI/KCTV/KSHB: Kyle Rector fired Jan 26 2026; charged Mar 2026 incl. Flock/LPR stalking of estranged wife + other offenses.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-009", "Year": 2026, "State": "CA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "San Francisco Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "SFPD Patrol Officer (Unnamed in report)", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Conflict of Interest / Unauthorized Search", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1", "Detailed_Summary": "An officer used SFPD's Flock ALPR system to locate his wife's stolen car for personal reasons, violating department rules regarding conflicts of interest. He then posted an image of the vehicle on social media.", "Discovery_Method": "An officer in a neighboring jurisdiction recognized the unauthorized social media post", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Subjected to formal internal affairs investigation for violating police surveillance protocols in March 2026.", "Reference_Source": "The San Francisco Standard / The Marshall Project", "Source_URL": "https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/03/07/police-camera-wisconsin-california-colorado", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Marshall Project: SFPD officer investigated for ALPR search re: wife stolen car / conflict of interest.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Internal Disciplinary Action / Other" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-010", "Year": 2026, "State": "MO", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Joplin Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Patrol Officer (Unnamed in agency disclosure)", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Unauthorized Access / Excessive Tracking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "395", "Detailed_Summary": "An officer was discovered to have abused the department's Flock Safety database by conducting 395 unauthorized searches on a single license plate without any active investigative case.", "Discovery_Method": "Investigation and records analysis by local transparency group DeFlock Joplin", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Officer was formally terminated from the police department in January 2026.", "Reference_Source": "KCUR Kansas City / DeFlock Joplin Investigation", "Source_URL": "https://www.kcur.org/news/2026-06-29/automated-license-plate-readers-alpr-kansas-city-lenexa-weston-police", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned (Employment Fallout)" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-011", "Year": 2026, "State": "FL", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Monroe County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Sheriff's Deputy Lamar Roman", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Stalking / Unlawful Traffic Stop", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Deputy Roman allegedly used an ALPR system to track and eventually pull over a woman he had met while providing off-duty security on a television set, monitoring her private vehicular movements.", "Discovery_Method": "Victim complaint and internal affairs investigation", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Arrested in 2026 and charged with accessing a computer or electronic device without authorization.", "Reference_Source": "Monroe County SO / Local 10 / Law&Crime (Mar 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://www.local10.com/news/local/2026/03/10/florida-keys-deputy-arrested-on-computer-crimes-charges/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Local10 / Law&Crime / 404 Media: Dep. Lamar Eliseo Roman fired+arrested Mar 2026; DAVID/ALPR hotlist + unauthorized stop of woman met on Bad Monkey set. Primary Monroe County case. Canonical Monroe County Lamar Roman record (FLK-2024-031 removed as duplicate of this case).", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-012", "Year": 2026, "State": "IL", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Prairie Grove & Holiday Hills Police Dept.", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer / Chief William C. Copp", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Copp, who simultaneously served as Police Chief of nearby Holiday Hills, abused authorized police access to search Flock ALPR databases for vehicle locations of several former romantic partners and at least one of their new partners.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal police investigation and victim reporting", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Arrested in 2026 and criminally charged with official misconduct and LPR misuse.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice ALPR Stalking Review", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ Plate Privacy list: Officer/Chief William C. Copp Prairie Grove/Holiday Hills; arrested for Flock searches of former romantic partners.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-013", "Year": 2026, "State": "CA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "San Francisco PD & Los Altos PD", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Municipal Operators & Federal Agencies", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Mass Surveillance / Illegal Data Sharing", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "2,600,000+ (Systemic)", "Detailed_Summary": "A class action lawsuit revealed that federal immigration and law enforcement agencies accessed SFPD's Flock cameras over 1.6 million times, while Los Altos shared data over 1 million times with out-of-state agencies, violating California statutory privacy laws designed to protect civil liberties and immigrant communities.", "Discovery_Method": "Public records disclosures and class action legal investigation", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Class action lawsuit filed by Gibbs Mura against Flock Safety and municipal operators seeking statutory damages ($2,500/violation) and injunctions.", "Reference_Source": "Gibbs Mura Class Action Complaint / California Civil Code \u00a7 1798.90.54 (April 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://www.classlawgroup.com/flock-safety-license-plate-reader-cameras-lawsuit", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Civil Lawsuit / Settlement / Dismissed Stop" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-014", "Year": 2026, "State": "CA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "San Diego Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Detective Gary Gonzales / Patrol Officers", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Flawed AI Recognition / False Arrest", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "San Diego police relied on a false Flock hit to arrest Ariel Beltran and Parra at gunpoint inside a cigar lounge for an attempted carjacking 5 miles away. The camera hit occurred before the pursuit began, proving physical impossibility, yet police ignored cell phone location alibis and arrested both men.", "Discovery_Method": "Defense investigation proving physical alibi and impossible timestamp synchronization", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Criminal charges dismissed; victims filed formal civil rights tort claims seeking $1.5 million apiece in damages in April 2026.", "Reference_Source": "Times of San Diego Legal Investigation (June 2026)", "Source_URL": "https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2026/06/07/a-flock-license-plate-reader-linked-a-san-diego-man-to-a-violent-crime-he-was-five-miles-away/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Times of San Diego Jun 2026: Hugo Parra AI vehicle match false positive; jailed ~1 month; charges dropped.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-015", "Year": 2026, "State": "MN", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Plymouth Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Patrol Officers / Automated System", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Flawed AI Recognition / False Stop", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "A Flock Safety AI camera misread the characters on a passing vehicle's license plate, generating a false positive hit for a wanted vehicle that led officers to initiate an armed stop of an innocent motorist.", "Discovery_Method": "Roadside verification by patrol officers after stop", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Documented in Institute for Justice national review of automated license plate reader errors; FOX9 news investigation.", "Reference_Source": "FOX 9 Minneapolis / Institute for Justice ALPR Error Report", "Source_URL": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aazWpPOyUls", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Internal Disciplinary Action / Other" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-016", "Year": 2026, "State": "CO", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Cherry Hills Village Police Dept.", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Patrol Officers / Automated System", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Flawed AI Recognition / Wrongful Stop", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "Flock Safety camera data led police to conduct an improper traffic stop on an innocent driver due to character misinterpretation and database synchronization errors.", "Discovery_Method": "Roadside investigation and license plate verification", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Driver released without charges; documented in national civil rights review of ALPR accuracy failures.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice ALPR Error Report", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/dozens-of-innocent-motorists-have-been-pulled-over-detained-at-gunpoint-or-jailed-due-to-ai-license-plate-camera-errors/", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Civil Lawsuit / Settlement / Dismissed Stop" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2026-017", "Year": 2026, "State": "AR", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Sherwood Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Patrol Officers / Automated System", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Flawed AI Recognition / Gunpoint Detention", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "A Flock camera misread the license plate of an SUV, leading officers to detain an innocent couple at gunpoint while their six-week-old baby sat alone in a car seat in the back of the vehicle.", "Discovery_Method": "Roadside verification after armed detention", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Officers admitted the AI camera error on scene ('I'm not gonna say they're completely perfect...'); documented in national civil rights review.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice ALPR Error Report", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/dozens-of-innocent-motorists-have-been-pulled-over-detained-at-gunpoint-or-jailed-due-to-ai-license-plate-camera-errors/", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2026, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Civil Lawsuit / Settlement / Dismissed Stop" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-018", "Year": 2025, "State": "WI", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Milwaukee Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Josue Ayala", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "179", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Ayala conducted 179 unauthorized searches in the Flock Safety system using a single-word justification ('investigation') to stalk a dating partner (>50 searches) and their ex-partner (>100 searches).", "Discovery_Method": "Victim self-searched license plate on haveibeenflocked.com and reported unauthorized police hits to MPD", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Charged with attempted misconduct in public office; pleaded guilty; resigned from MPD.", "Reference_Source": "The Marshall Project / Novara Media Investigation", "Source_URL": "https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/03/07/police-camera-wisconsin-california-colorado", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Marshall Project / Urban Milwaukee / IJ: Ayala ~179 Flock searches of dating partner + ex; charged; pleaded; resigned.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-019", "Year": 2025, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Braselton Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Police Chief Michael Steffman", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking / Harassment", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Police Chief Steffman abused municipal license plate reader databases to actively track, stalk, and harass multiple people, including a former romantic partner.", "Discovery_Method": "Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) criminal probe", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Resigned as Police Chief in Nov 2025; arrested by GBI on criminal stalking and misconduct charges.", "Reference_Source": "Atlanta Journal-Constitution / GBI Report (Nov 2025)", "Source_URL": "https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/06/georgia-officers-misuse-license-plate-reader-databases-can-they-be-stopped/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "AJC/GBI: Braselton Chief Michael Steffman; ALPR misuse + stalking/harassment; resigned then arrested.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-020", "Year": 2025, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Coffee County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Former Deputy Chris Rozar", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Deputy Rozar utilized the department's Flock Safety ALPR database to monitor the movements of a woman he was romantically interested in, tracking her vehicle locations without her consent or any active criminal case.", "Discovery_Method": "Victim complaint and subsequent internal investigation", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Fired from the department at the onset of the investigation; criminally charged with multiple offenses.", "Reference_Source": "Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Institute for Justice", "Source_URL": "https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/06/georgia-officers-misuse-license-plate-reader-databases-can-they-be-stopped/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ/AJC: Coffee County former Dep. Chris Rozar charged after Flock stalking of romantic interest; fired.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-021", "Year": 2025, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Echols County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Anna Altobello (Civilian Secretary)", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Personal Tracking / Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (8 Felony Counts)", "Detailed_Summary": "A civilian secretary at the sheriff's office accessed the agency's Flock Safety account on multiple occasions for non-law enforcement purposes, conducting unauthorized tag searches on two acquaintances.", "Discovery_Method": "Sheriff requested GBI investigation following an external tip", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Arrested by GBI; charged with 8 counts of Misuse of License Plate Data, Stalking, Family Violence Stalking, and Violation of Oath of Office.", "Reference_Source": "Atlanta Journal-Constitution / GBI Investigation", "Source_URL": "https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/06/georgia-officers-misuse-license-plate-reader-databases-can-they-be-stopped/", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-022", "Year": 2025, "State": "CO", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Columbine Valley Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Sgt. Jamie Milliman", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Wrongful Accusation / Flawed AI Evidence", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "Sgt. Milliman relied blindly on a Flock ALPR camera hit to accuse Denver resident Chrisanna Elser of stealing a $25 package. Police issued a criminal summons without verifying obvious discrepancies. Elser had to obtain her own vehicle's onboard Rivian video to prove she was miles away when the theft occurred.", "Discovery_Method": "Victim presented video alibi proving the Flock hit and police accusation completely false", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Criminal summons voided; town administrator announced formal disciplinary action against Sgt. Milliman.", "Reference_Source": "The Colorado Sun / 404 Media Investigation", "Source_URL": "https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/28/flock-camera-police-colorado-columbine-valley/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Colorado Sun Oct 28 2025 (and Nov discipline follow-ups): Sgt Milliman / Chrisanna Elser wrongful package-theft summons via Flock; summons voided; reprimand + training.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-023", "Year": 2025, "State": "KY", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Louisville Metro Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Roberto Cedeno", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Hundreds", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Cedeno utilized the city's automated license plate reader system to track an ex-partner and her friends hundreds of times over a two-month period without any legitimate law enforcement objective.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal affairs audit and victim reporting", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Arrested and charged with multiple felony offenses; terminated from police employment.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice Nationwide ALPR Review", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Louisville Officer Roberto Cedeno charged after ALPR tracking of ex + friends hundreds of times.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-024", "Year": 2025, "State": "WA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "King County Sheriff's Office / Covington", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Deputy Welch", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Flawed AI Recognition / Excessive Force", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "Deputy Welch received a false Flock Safety alert for a stolen van, drove to a gas station, and tackled an innocent man to the ground, grabbing his waist and forcing him face-down onto pavement in a violent wrongful detention.", "Discovery_Method": "King County Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) independent investigation", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Formal oversight investigation confirming lack of probable cause and reliance on unverified Flock alert.", "Reference_Source": "King County OLEO Investigation Report #2025-006", "Source_URL": "https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/independent/governance-and-leadership/government-oversight/office-of-law-enforcement-oversight/investigation-findings-memos/2026/oleo2025-006-fir.pdf", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Internal Disciplinary Action / Other" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-025", "Year": 2025, "State": "CA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "City of El Cajon", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "City Police Department / Municipal Leadership", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Illegal Data Sharing / Mass Surveillance", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Systemic (Continuous)", "Detailed_Summary": "The City of El Cajon systematically violated California law by sharing Flock ALPR data feeds with out-of-state police agencies and federal border/immigration authorities without required legal guardrails or statutory oversight.", "Discovery_Method": "Investigation by California Office of the Attorney General", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a formal lawsuit against the City of El Cajon in Oct 2025 to halt illegal ALPR data sharing.", "Reference_Source": "California Attorney General Lawsuit / CalECPA (Oct 2025)", "Source_URL": "https://www.classlawgroup.com/flock-safety-license-plate-reader-cameras-lawsuit", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Civil Lawsuit / Settlement / Dismissed Stop" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-026", "Year": 2025, "State": "GA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Buford City Schools Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "School Police Officers", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Mission Creep / Low-Level Surveillance", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "375+", "Detailed_Summary": "Between Jan 2025 and March 2026, school police ran more than 375 searches in ALPR tracking databases for low-level 'school residency verification' (RV), representing severe surveillance mission creep without criminal predicate.", "Discovery_Method": "Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) nationwide audit log analysis", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Exposed nationally by EFF as an unchecked administrative shortcut around legal due process.", "Reference_Source": "Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Deep Links Investigation", "Source_URL": "https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/05/more-license-plate-reader-mission-creep-school-residency-verification-background", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Internal Disciplinary Action / Other" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2025-027", "Year": 2025, "State": "TN", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Oak Ridge Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Zachary D. Gauthier", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Unauthorized Access / Personal Tracking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "18 (Flock-specific counts of 23 total)", "Detailed_Summary": "Former Oak Ridge PD Officer Zachary Gauthier accessed the Flock ALPR system 18 times for personal (non-law-enforcement) use between February 25 and March 25, 2025, and also misused Accurint, the State Link System, and his patrol-car computer. An Anderson County Grand Jury indicted him on 23 counts of official misconduct (Class E felony) on July 1, 2025\u201418 counts specifically for Flock misuse. He was placed on leave April 21, 2025, fired April 24, 2025, and pleaded guilty to all 23 counts on March 23, 2026 (48 hours custody, supervised probation, POST surrender, judicial diversion eligibility). Oak Ridge shares Flock data within the same East Tennessee network as Maryville.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal Oak Ridge PD complaints referred to Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark for independent investigation", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Terminated April 24, 2025; indicted July 1, 2025 on 23 counts of official misconduct; pleaded guilty March 23, 2026.", "Reference_Source": "Maryville Residents for Privacy / WBIR 10News / WATE 6 News / Anderson County DA", "Source_URL": "https://www.maryvilleprivacy.org/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Documented on maryvilleprivacy.org (East TN regional Flock network context). Corroborated by WBIR indictment/plea coverage, WATE indictment detail (18 Flock counts), WVLT plea reporting (Mar 23, 2026), and Anderson County Grand Jury / DA Clark statements.", "Incident_Year": 2025, "Resolution_Year": 2026, "Year_Note": "Year/Case_ID keyed to 2025 indictment/public charging; Incident_Year is Feb\u2013Mar 2025 Flock queries; Resolution_Year is Mar 2026 guilty plea.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2024-027", "Year": 2024, "State": "IL", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Matteson Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Jaila Cole-Clark", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Hundreds", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Cole-Clark conducted hundreds of unauthorized searches in the department's Flock Safety database to monitor the daily driving routes of her former domestic partner and that person's new partner.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal investigation triggered by complaint; documents obtained via FOIA by stopflock.org", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Officer resigned from the police department during the middle of the internal affairs investigation.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice Review / stopflock.org FOIA", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ/stopflock.org: Matteson Officer Jaila Cole-Clark; hundreds of Flock searches of former domestic partner; resigned mid-investigation.", "Incident_Year": 2024, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned (Employment Fallout)" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2024-028", "Year": 2024, "State": "FL", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Orange City Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Jarmarus Brown", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "100+", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Brown allegedly used automated license plate readers to stalk his girlfriend and her family members more than 100 times over a seven-month span without any investigative basis.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal audit and victim complaint", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Arrested and criminally charged in 2025; terminated from the police department.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice ALPR Stalking Review", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Orange City Officer Jarmarus Brown; 100+ ALPR hits on girlfriend/family; arrested 2025.", "Incident_Year": 2024, "Resolution_Year": 2025, "Year_Note": "Misuse window associated with 2024; arrested and criminally charged in 2025.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2024-029", "Year": 2024, "State": "CA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Riverside County Sheriff's Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Deputy Alexander Vanny", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Stalking / Kidnapping Facilitation", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "After being arrested for kidnapping his ex-fianc\u00e9e, forensic audits revealed Deputy Vanny had used the department's ALPR system to illegally track one of her close friends to monitor their movements and gather intelligence.", "Discovery_Method": "Criminal investigation into domestic kidnapping and stalking", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Convicted by jury in Dec 2025 on multiple felony charges; terminated from Sheriff's Department.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice / Riverside County DA", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Riverside Dep. Alexander Vanny; Flock tracking of ex-fianc\u00e9e friend after kidnapping arrest; convicted Dec 2025.", "Incident_Year": 2024, "Resolution_Year": 2025, "Year_Note": "Underlying conduct associated with 2024; jury conviction Dec 2025.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2024-030", "Year": 2024, "State": "TN", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Shelby County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Deputy Thadius Gordon", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Domestic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "100+", "Detailed_Summary": "Deputy Gordon accessed county ALPR tracking databases more than 100 times to stalk his ex-wife and monitor her vehicular movements across the jurisdiction without law enforcement purpose.", "Discovery_Method": "Victim complaint and internal audit", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Relieved of duty by Sheriff's Office; subjected to internal and criminal investigation.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice Nationwide ALPR Stalking Report", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Shelby County Dep. Thadius Gordon; 100+ ALPR tracks of ex-wife; relieved of duty.", "Incident_Year": 2024, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2024-032", "Year": 2024, "State": "SC", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "York County Sheriff's Office", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Patrol Officers / Automated System", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Flawed AI Recognition / Wrongful Stop", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "An automated Flock camera misread alphanumeric characters on a passing license plate, generating an erroneous stolen vehicle alert that resulted in an improper traffic stop of an innocent driver.", "Discovery_Method": "Roadside verification of vehicle registration and VIN", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Driver released; documented in Institute for Justice database of automated license plate reader errors.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice ALPR Error Report", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/dozens-of-innocent-motorists-have-been-pulled-over-detained-at-gunpoint-or-jailed-due-to-ai-license-plate-camera-errors/", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2024, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Internal Disciplinary Action / Other" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2024-033", "Year": 2024, "State": "FL", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Niceville Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Former Officer Coty Hall", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Co-worker Stalking / Harassment", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Hall utilized the department's Flock camera network to unlawfully track the personal driving routes and movements of a fellow police officer and that officer's spouse.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal department audit and complaint", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Pleaded no contest to criminal charges; fired from the police department following arrest.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice / Florida Court Records", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Niceville Officer Coty Hall; Flock tracking of coworker+spouse; pleaded no contest; fired (arrest ~Oct 2025).", "Incident_Year": 2024, "Resolution_Year": 2025, "Year_Note": "Misuse discovery/ID year 2024; arrest ~Oct 2025 then plea / termination.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2023-034", "Year": 2023, "State": "CA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Costa Mesa Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Robert Josett", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Extended Period)", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer Josett utilized a Flock camera system to track the movements of his mistress as well as her other romantic interests over an extended period without law enforcement authorization.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal affairs audit and complaint", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges in April 2026; employment terminated.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice / California Court Records", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Costa Mesa Officer Robert Josett; Flock track of mistress; pleaded guilty Apr 2026.", "Incident_Year": 2023, "Resolution_Year": 2026, "Year_Note": "Misuse year 2023; pleaded guilty April 2026.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2023-035", "Year": 2023, "State": "KS", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Sedgwick Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Police Chief Lee Nygaard", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Romantic Stalking / Physical Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "228", "Detailed_Summary": "Police Chief Nygaard used Flock cameras to track his ex-girlfriend's vehicles 228 times over four months and followed her and her new boyfriend in his police cruiser using real-time location alerts.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal investigation and county reporting", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Resigned as Police Chief under investigation; documented by ACLU and Institute for Justice.", "Reference_Source": "ACLU of Wisconsin / KCUR Report", "Source_URL": "https://www.aclu-wi.org/news/what-the-flock-police-surveillance-is-ripe-for-abuse/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ/ACLU-WI: Sedgwick Chief Lee Nygaard; 200+ Flock hits on ex + boyfriend; resigned.", "Incident_Year": 2023, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned (Employment Fallout)" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2022-036", "Year": 2022, "State": "KS", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Kechi Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Lt. Victor Heiar", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Domestic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Lt. Heiar abused municipal Flock license plate tracking databases to monitor the movements of his estranged wife without her consent or any criminal investigation.", "Discovery_Method": "Victim complaint and internal audit", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Pleaded guilty to criminal computer crime and stalking charges; terminated from police employment.", "Reference_Source": "KCUR Radio / Kansas Court Records", "Source_URL": "https://www.kcur.org/news/2026-06-29/automated-license-plate-readers-alpr-kansas-city-lenexa-weston-police", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Kechi Lt Victor Heiar; Flock track of estranged wife; pleaded guilty (IJ lists 2023 resolution year).", "Incident_Year": 2022, "Resolution_Year": 2023, "Year_Note": "Misuse associated with 2022 cataloguing; IJ lists 2023 plea/resolution year.", "Outcome_Bucket": "Terminated / Resigned & Criminally Charged" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2021-037", "Year": 2021, "State": "PA", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Westmoreland County", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Officer Michael McSherry", "System_Vendor": "ALPR / Automated Systems", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Domestic Stalking", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Repeated (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "Officer McSherry repeatedly accessed automated license plate reader networks to track the vehicular movements of his estranged wife and several other family members.", "Discovery_Method": "Internal police audit and criminal investigation", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Pleaded guilty to criminal stalking charges; stripped of police powers and employment.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice ALPR Stalking Review", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/police-have-reportedly-used-license-plate-readers-to-stalk/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "IJ: Westmoreland Officer Michael McSherry; pleaded guilty to stalking via plate readers of estranged wife/family.", "Incident_Year": 2021, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Criminally Charged / Indicted" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2020-038", "Year": 2020, "State": "KS", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Lenexa Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Police Department Leadership / Patrol Officers", "System_Vendor": "Flock Safety / ALPR", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Retaliation / Political Targeting", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "Multiple (Unspecified)", "Detailed_Summary": "After citizen Canyen Ashworth published a newspaper op-ed critical of local police cooperation with ICE, police retaliated by linking him to anti-ICE posters put up with glue around town. The Police Chief issued a 'MYOC' (Make Your Own Case) BOLO and utilized ALPR cameras to actively track his vehicle around town to manufacture a reason for a traffic stop.", "Discovery_Method": "Open records request by KCUR radio and legal intervention by ACLU of Kansas", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "Exposed nationally by ACLU as unconstitutional First Amendment retaliation and mass-surveillance abuse.", "Reference_Source": "ACLU of Kansas / KCUR Radio Report", "Source_URL": "https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/tracking-alpr-cameras/alpr-against-op-ed-writer", "Verification_Status": "Cited / aggregator-aligned", "Verification_Notes": "Retained from master workbook; cited source URL present and cross-checked against IJ/AJC/KCUR/EFF aggregator reporting where applicable.", "Incident_Year": 2020, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Internal Disciplinary Action / Other" }, { "Case_ID": "FLK-2020-039", "Year": 2020, "State": "CO", "Agency_Jurisdiction": "Aurora Police Department", "Subject_Officer_Involved": "Patrol Officers / Automated System", "System_Vendor": "ALPR (In-car / Automated Reader)", "Misuse_Abuse_Category": "Flawed AI Recognition / Gunpoint Detention", "Documented_Search_Count_Frequency": "1 (AI Error)", "Detailed_Summary": "An ALPR system erroneously flagged Brittney Gilliam's minivan as a stolen vehicle (matching the plate number of a stolen motorcycle from Montana). Officers conducted a high-risk gunpoint stop, forcing four children (ages 6 to 17) to lie face-down in handcuffs on hot pavement before verifying the obvious vehicle mismatch.", "Discovery_Method": "Viral bystander video by Jennifer Wurtz and internal police review", "Outcome_Disciplinary_Action": "City paid $2.99 million settlement to the family; police issued formal apology; state legislature reformed high-risk traffic stop protocols.", "Reference_Source": "Institute for Justice ALPR Review / CBS News Colorado", "Source_URL": "https://ij.org/dozens-of-innocent-motorists-have-been-pulled-over-detained-at-gunpoint-or-jailed-due-to-ai-license-plate-camera-errors/", "Verification_Status": "Verified", "Verification_Notes": "Widely reported Aurora Gilliam family Flock hit / gunpoint stop; multi-million settlement corpus.", "Incident_Year": 2020, "Resolution_Year": null, "Year_Note": "", "Outcome_Bucket": "Civil Lawsuit / Settlement / Dismissed Stop" } ], "meta": { "verified_incident_count": 39, "generated_on": "2026-07-14", "sheets": [ "README", "Summary & Analysis", "Verified Incidents" ], "last_source_addition": { "source": "https://www.maryvilleprivacy.org/", "added_case_ids": [ "FLK-2025-027" ], "note": "Added Oak Ridge, TN Flock misuse case (Zachary Gauthier) from Maryville Residents for Privacy Tennessee regional documentation. Related TN stories on that site without ALPR-misuse allegations (Maryville Officer Reid Gray Walker domestic assault; Rockwood Officer Charles Haubrich body-cavity-search firing) were not entered as verified ALPR misuse incidents." } } }