A San Jose police officer has been dismissed after improperly accessing Flock automated licence plate-reader data and passing it to a domestic violence suspect, according to police chief Paul Joseph.
Joseph said the officer used the department’s system on a personal phone last spring to help a family member. The information was then provided to a suspect, allowing them to locate a victim.
“This is a betrayal of the public trust – plain and simple,” Chief Joseph said.
The officer was placed on administrative leave after the department became aware of the alleged misuse. A criminal investigation was launched and referred to the district attorney’s office before the officer was ultimately fired, police said.
Flock cameras automatically record vehicle number plates and other identifying details, allowing officers to search the database during investigations. San Jose police have described the technology as an important tool in tackling crimes including robbery and vehicle theft.
Joseph said the incident had prompted the department to change its procedures so the database could no longer be accessed from personal devices.
The case comes as privacy groups and local officials continue to question the safeguards surrounding automated licence plate readers. Critics argue that the systems can enable excessive surveillance and be abused for personal purposes.
