Law enforcement agencies across the United States are facing scrutiny as multiple officers face termination or arrest for misusing Flock Safety license plate reader systems for personal surveillance.

Key Points

• The Savannah Police Department fired six employees for using the Flock Safety system to conduct unauthorized searches on family members and personal acquaintances.
• A North Carolina police officer was arrested for allegedly tracking her boyfriend’s ex-wife 31 times using the license plate reader technology.
• An Ohio police officer resigned following an internal investigation into his repeated use of the system to monitor a vehicle linked to his domestic partner.
• Public records reveal that some law enforcement agencies instruct officers to conceal the use of automated license plate readers during traffic stops.
• Internal policies in certain jurisdictions advise officers to label the technology as "county resources" and avoid documenting its use in official reports.

Why it Matters

These incidents highlight growing concerns regarding the privacy risks and potential for abuse inherent in widespread automated surveillance technology. The trend of agencies obscuring the use of these tools complicates public oversight and raises significant questions about the balance between law enforcement investigative methods and civil liberties.