Cop Shared Flock Data With Woman’s Alleged Abuser, But Won’t Face Charges

Key Takeaways

• A San Jose police officer was fired for sharing Flock tracking information with his cousin, who was accused of domestic violence.
• The officer used his personal phone to retrieve vehicle information and passed it to his cousin.
• The access left an audit trail, which helped investigators establish what happened.
• The officer won’t face charges due to a gap in California law.
• The incident highlights the need for stricter regulations on ALPR data access and disclosure.

What Happened in the Incident?

The San Jose police officer used the department’s Flock database to track a woman who had accused his cousin of domestic violence. He then shared the information with his cousin, who used it to locate the woman.

The investigation began after the woman reported her suspicions to the police. Investigators checked the Flock records and found the unauthorized access.

Why Wasn’t the Officer Charged?

According to Chief Paul Joseph, the officer won’t face charges due to a gap in California law. Restrictions criminalizing improper access to certain confidential criminal databases don’t currently extend to ALPR data in the same way.

Joseph attributed the officer’s lack of charges partly to this gap in the law and asked lawmakers to expressly criminalize unauthorized access and disclosure.

What Does This Incident Highlight?

The incident highlights the need for stricter regulations on ALPR data access and disclosure. The woman’s complaint led investigators to discover the officer’s unauthorized database access, but the investigation began because she recognized something was wrong and spoke up.

Catching misuse afterward matters, but for the person whose whereabouts have already been shared with an alleged abuser, that protection arrives awfully late.

What Changes Have Been Made Since the Incident?

Flock Safety has changed its audit log to make it far harder for the public to track down cases of misuse and abuse like this one.

What Are the Implications of This Incident?

The incident has implications for the use of ALPR data and the need for stricter regulations on access and disclosure. It also highlights the importance of accountability and oversight in the use of such technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Flock?

Flock is a license plate reader database used by law enforcement agencies.

Q: Why was the officer fired?

The officer was fired for sharing Flock tracking information with his cousin, who was accused of domestic violence.

Q: Why wasn’t the officer charged?

The officer won’t face charges due to a gap in California law. Restrictions criminalizing improper access to certain confidential criminal databases don’t currently extend to ALPR data in the same way.