US law enforcement ALPR technology misuse

Law enforcement agencies in the United States have faced investigations into the misuse of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology, specifically the Flock Safety system.

In Indianapolis, five current and former Metropolitan Police Department officers were charged with fraud and official misconduct. An internal audit revealed that officers conducted thousands of unauthorized searches for personal reasons, including tracking ex-spouses and relatives. One officer, Jonathan Schultz, faces 26 counts, including stalking, following allegations that he conducted approximately 1,396 unauthorized searches to stage encounters with women. IMPD Chief Tanya Terry acknowledged that oversight policies required strengthening; the department now requires officers to link every Flock data search to a specific case number. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears indicated that current charges may only be the beginning of the investigation.

In Pinellas County, Florida, the Sheriff’s Office arrested two deputies for improperly accessing agency databases after a reporter identified anomalies in publicly accessible search logs.

New investigations have expanded the scope of reported misuse. In Georgetown, Indiana, Officer Justin Craig was arrested and charged with official misconduct and fraud after allegedly performing hundreds of unauthorized searches, including over 80 searches for his wife’s license plate. Investigators stated Craig mislabeled these searches as being related to narcotics, theft, or traffic infractions. In Goodyear, Arizona, an internal audit found that former officer Kristopher Jackson misused the department’s database. While the Glendale Police Department found insufficient evidence for criminal charges, Jackson resigned following findings of abuse of authority, dishonesty, and body-worn camera policy violations.