Ex-cops keep tracking people via camera network
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The gist
A Washington Post investigation found at least 11 cases of unauthorized users accessing Flock's license plate reader network.
The cases raise questions about access after police jobs end.
Background
Flock Safety is a Georgia-based maker of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that operates more than 120,000 cameras across the U.S. The Washington Post investigation follows a 2024 breach after which Flock employees urged stronger security, but the company continued practices that left its network vulnerable to unauthorized users. The findings add to growing scrutiny of Flock's surveillance technology and oversight practices amid a broader national debate over the cameras.
How it unfolded
- 2021Andrae Wright left his job as an investigator at the Effingham County Sheriff's Office, handing in his gun and badge but keeping his Flock log-in credentials.
- 2024Flock employees urged the company to adopt stronger security after a breach.
- 2024According to Savannah Police Department disciplinary records obtained by The Current, SPD investigated abuse of the surveillance network; in one case that year an officer used Flock to stalk two fellow police officers, was later terminated and arrested.
- 2025A University of Washington Center for Human Rights study found at least eight Washington law enforcement agencies shared their Flock data networks directly with ICE, and 10 more departments allowed ICE backdoor access without explicitly granting permission.
- 2025Police in Los Angeles and San Diego were found sharing information with Homeland Security, in violation of a state law banning out-of-state sharing of license plate data.
- 2026 -07The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center, a government fusion center, issued a warning to California police about city council meetings on Flock, obtained by 404 Media via a Freedom of Information Act request.
- Jul 27, 2026SPD launched an internal investigation into alleged abuse of Flock by four officers and two civilian employees, according to an SPD press release.
- Oct 19, 2026The Current reported that more than 500 Flock cameras are operated by 18 law enforcement agencies across the seven counties of Coastal Georgia.
- Oct 21, 2026The Washington Post published an investigation finding at least 11 cases in which unauthorized users accessed Flock Safety's nationwide license plate reader network, including retired and suspended police officers and people using shared login credentials.
- Oct 22, 2026Voice of OC reported Santa Ana officials are directing staff to compile a report on the effectiveness of their license plate readers and who has access before deciding whether to turn off the cameras.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Washington Post reporter Doug MacMillan said many recent cases involved people no longer authorized to use the system, and that security experts believe basic cybersecurity standards could have prevented many incidents.
- Official
- Flock spokesman Paris Lewbel said the company takes action when it identifies security gaps or violations of its policies, and the company says it has been working to identify and remove accounts that violate its terms of service.
- Support
- Police officials and some elected officials in Orange County defend the technology as a tool that helps solve crimes and argue there are safeguards in place to prevent misuse.
- Caution
- Privacy advocates including the ACLU say the technology enables mass surveillance, while supporters say it helps police solve crimes and locate missing people.
Still unverified
The Washington Post reported that some former officers allegedly retained access after leaving their jobs, while others gained entry through password-sharing arrangements. Former Flock employees alleged that company leaders were reluctant to implement stricter security controls because they feared friction with law enforcement customers. Former Milton, Georgia detective Randy Dula was charged after allegedly using Flock's system to track a woman, who investigators found was searched more than 200 times over roughly a year though not the subject of a criminal investigation; his wife Mariam Dula said he did not misuse the cameras and used them to find a person in danger.