Dozens of police officers accused of misusing Flock camera database
Fox News correspondent Danamarie McNicholl has the latest on police officers across the country being arrested for allegedly misusing Flock Safety camera systems, as growing concerns over privacy and accountability fuel scrutiny of the license plate reader technology and its use by law enforcement agencies nationwide on ‘America Reports.’
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A former Indiana sheriff’s deputy has been charged in connection with abusing access to Flock camera technology to stalk his girlfriend for over a year by allegedly conducting more than 2,000 searches for her license plate.
Skylar Thompson, 31, faces one count of official misconduct as a Level 6 felony and a misdemeanor count of fraud.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department discovered that Thompson used the Flock technology to conduct the searches between Dec. 31, 2025, and Aug. 2, during an internal audit of the system, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said.
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Skylar Thompson, 31, a former Indiana sheriff’s deputy, is charged in connection with allegedly conducting more than 2,000 searches for the same license plate using Flock cameras, prosecutors said. (Getty Images; Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office)
Thompson reportedly listed his searches as “city planning/traffic analysis” despite never being assigned duties involving either duty, prosecutors said.
The agency then asked the Indiana State Police to investigate. Thompson turned himself in to authorities Monday.
He resigned from the sheriff’s department the day he was confronted about the alleged abuse. He also drove to his then-girlfriend’s home and admitted what he had done, WKBN-TV reported.
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Flock cameras are used in towns across the nation as license plate readers, but the technology has come under scrutiny in recent months. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images, File)
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with access to sensitive information and investigative tools, and that access must be used responsibly and only for legitimate law enforcement purposes,” the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said. “No person is above the law, including those entrusted with enforcing it.”
Flock cameras have come under heavy scrutiny over privacy concerns and the potential for misuse.
Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel defended the technology as an important public safety tool in a statement to Fox News Digital last month.
“Flock’s technology is an important public safety tool for law enforcement agencies across Texas, helping officers solve serious crimes, find missing people, recover stolen vehicles, and support safer communities,” Lewbel said.
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“We support thoughtful legislation and strong privacy, transparency, and accountability guardrails that ensure technology is used responsibly while preserving law enforcement’s ability to use effective tools to keep people safe,” Lewbel continued.
