Misuse of Flock license plate reader technology

Law enforcement officers in the United States have faced legal and disciplinary actions following the misuse of Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology.

In Illinois, former Joliet Police Department lieutenant Jeremy Harrison was charged with official misconduct and computer tampering. An investigation by the Illinois State Police alleges Harrison misused the Flock database in July 2025. This case is part of broader allegations involving unauthorized searches of the tracking system by various law enforcement personnel in Will County.

In Georgia, the Savannah Police Department terminated officer Amber Harpe for sharing her Flock login credentials with her husband, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Audits revealed that the agent used the credentials to conduct 983 searches across several states, including Georgia, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Investigators noted that many searches in South Carolina targeted vehicles owned by Hispanic individuals. The incident has raised concerns regarding federal immigration agents accessing local surveillance networks without formal agreements.