A San Jose police officer has been fired for allegedly using Flock camera data to help a relative track down the location of a domestic violence victim, police officials said.
The officer, while off duty, used a personal device to perform the unauthorized automatic license plate reader search, related to a domestic violence matter involving family members, San Jose police said.
After finding the victim’s vehicle, the officer shared the location with the suspect, who is a relative of the officer, according to police.
“The officer was immediately placed on leave and later terminated following a criminal investigation,” San Jose police said in a statement. The case has been submitted to the State of California Peace Officer Standards and Training for decertification investigation.
The case has prompted the department to put policies in place regarding Flock data, police said.
The department has now restricted automatic license plate reader and other sensitive law enforcement systems from being accessed on personal devices. All officers were admonished that improper access of ALPR and other law enforcement systems is grounds for termination.
In addition to current monthly ALPR audits, the department is testing new smart auditing tools that go even further to flag possible access without a lawful purpose.
“When an officer violates the public’s trust this severely, my responsibility is clear: that person cannot remain in a position of police authority, and they cannot wear the San Jose badge, said Police Chief Paul Joseph. “This technology is new; the standard is not.”
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