Flock Traffic Cameras Track Everything, Except The Cops Misusing Them
A Wisconsin police officer faces charges after allegedly misusing Flock license plate cameras, raising new concerns about abuse
https://www.carscoops.com/author/stephen-rivers/
by Stephen Rivers
An officer faces felony charges for alleged Flock misuse.
Investigators say he used police systems improperly.
The incident has renewed debate around surveillance.
Proponents of surveillance cameras like those in the Flock Safety system often have a similar argument. They’ll say that for those with nothing to hide, the cameras are no big deal. A new story out of Wisconsin destroys that talking point. Sadly, it’s not the only such case that we found.
Read: Cameras Logged Everything About Your Car And Made It Public
Cristian Morales, a 31-year-old officer with the Menasha Police Department, made his initial court appearance Friday following his arrest earlier this week. According to WBAY, Morales has been charged with one count of misconduct in public office for allegedly exceeding his authority, a Class I felony that carries a maximum sentence of up to 3.5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Who’s Monitoring the Monitors?
In a strange reversal of roles, it was Morales’s alleged victim who jump-started the investigation. They contacted the Appleton Police Department about concerns that he was using Flock Safety systems improperly. Investigators claim Morales conducted seven searches in the Flock system between October 7 and October 14, five of which were for the victim’s vehicles and two for a vehicle belonging to his brother.
According to the criminal complaint, one of those searches occurred on October 9 between 9 and 10 a.m., with the reason entered into the system listed as “welfare.” Police say Morales later admitted to searching the system while off duty, telling investigators his actions were driven by desperation, poor judgment, and lack of sleep. He also acknowledged that he knew using the system in that way was wrong.
Not Just a One-Off
Sadly, Morales isn’t the only officer accused of this type of behavior. A Sandy Springs police officer in Georgia was fired after the department reportedly found him using the system improperly. In that case, he wasn’t stalking a person, but rather, he was allegedly using it to commit corporate espionage. Flock didn’t catch the issue, and neither did local authorities. It was actually the company the officer is accused of helping that outed him.
In Joplin, Missouri, another officer was let go after the department found he was using it inappropriately. While it didn’t say what that inappropriate behavior was, it did mention that the Missouri State Highway Patrol is reviewing whether or not to bring criminal charges based on the situation.
Also: Eight AI Cameras Caught 29,000 Offenders. The Fines Go Straight To Your Phone
Somewhat hilariously, the department didn’t find the inappropriate use until a citizen requested records of Flock camera usage.
That seems to be a consistent issue here. In all three of the cases we’ve highlighted here, it wasn’t law enforcement or Flock Safety that found the issue. It was private citizens who brought the problems to light. Keep that in mind when folks say that camera systems like Flock are problem-free so long as you have nothing to hide.
Photo Flock Safety
