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San Jose officer fired for misusing Flock camera database in domestic abuse case
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- A San Jose police officer was fired for improperly using the department’s Flock license plate tracking system to share the location of a woman with a suspect accused of abusing her, who was the officer’s cousin.
- The officer accessed the data without authorization on his personal phone and sent it to his cousin, leading to a criminal investigation and administrative leave.
- Police Chief Paul Joseph condemned the officer’s actions as a serious violation of public trust and called for state legislation to make such misuse easier to prosecute as a crime.
- License plate reading technology has faced widespread criticism over privacy concerns, mass surveillance, and misuse by law enforcement, including stalking and sharing data with ICE.
- Despite ongoing concerns, the California assembly recently adjourned without passing new regulations on license-plate reading technology.
