Full Breakdown
Greer Police Department Terminates Two Officers Over Misuse of Flock License-Plate Readers
7/16/2026, 1:20:43 AM
Core Event
On June 26, 2024, Corporal Kareem Lynch and Officer Sebastian Echeverry of the Greer Police Department in South Carolina turned in their badges after an internal investigation concluded they violated the city’s policy governing the use of Flock Safety’s automated license-plate reader (ALPR) system. The department activated Flock’s newly released “AI Audit Assistance” tool in response to allegations of policy breaches, and the audit confirmed the misconduct, leading to the officers’ termination. The city announced the firings on July 14, 2024.
Background & Context
Flock Safety provides a network of ALPR cameras that capture license-plate data and store it for law-enforcement customers. While agencies argue the technology aids in solving crimes and locating missing persons, privacy advocates contend it enables mass surveillance and data-sharing practices that may infringe civil liberties. Over the past year, more than 55 municipalities have ended contracts with Flock, and the Los Angeles Police Department declined to renew its three-year agreement, citing “serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues.” Similar misuse allegations have arisen in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Orange City, Florida, where officers faced discipline for using the system to track private individuals.
Key Figures & Groups
- Kareem Lynch – Corporal, Greer Police Department.
- Sebastian Echeverry – Officer, Greer Police Department.
- Andrew Merriman – Greer City Administrator, overseeing the audit.
- Dean Gialamas – Chief Information Officer, Los Angeles Police Department.
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Civil-rights organization monitoring Flock deployments.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Federal agency referenced in data-sharing discussions.
- Flock Safety – Private company supplying the ALPR platform.
Data & Statistics
- Independent trackers estimate tens of thousands of Flock cameras are operating nationwide, though no comprehensive public registry exists.
- More than 55 localities have terminated Flock contracts in the past year, according to the ACLU.
- Greer operates four Flock ALPR units, as documented by the Atlas of Surveillance.
Official Statements & Responses
City Administrator Andrew Merriman emphasized the department’s commitment to privacy, stating that the audit “corroborated the initial information, and as a result, the two officers were terminated.” The Greer Police Department has not disclosed the specific nature of the policy violations.
Dean Gialamas, LAPD’s CIO, explained the department’s decision not to renew its contract: “This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras.”
A DHS spokesperson clarified that the agency “does not have a contract with Flock but works with many private contractors to fulfill its mission of protecting American citizens.”
The ACLU warned that Flock’s data “could be used to enforce anti-abortion or anti-immigrant laws from other jurisdictions,” and cited a June press release alleging the company shared ALPR data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation efforts.
Criticism & Opposition
Privacy advocates argue that Flock’s nationwide camera network creates a “giant camera network that records people’s comings and goings across the nation,” raising fears of unchecked surveillance and potential misuse for immigration enforcement. The ACLU has called for stricter oversight and transparency regarding data retention and sharing practices.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Greer officials have not released details on how Lynch and Echeverry misused the system, leaving the exact nature of the violations unclear. Additionally, while the ACLU alleges data sharing with ICE, Flock and DHS maintain that no such contract exists, highlighting a dispute over the extent of federal access to local ALPR data.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras,” — Dean Gialamas, LAPD Chief Information Officer
- “the company was sharing local automated license plate reader (ALPR) data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist with deportation efforts.” — ACLU press release
- “After receiving allegations that two Greer police officers had violated the city’s policy on Automatic License Plate Recognition technology, the Greer Police Department activated Flock Safety’s newly released AI Audit Assistance tool to review the entire department’s use of the platform,” — Andrew Merriman, Greer City Administrator
- “Unlike a targeted ALPR camera system that is designed to take pictures of license plates, check the plates against local hot lists, and then flush the data if there’s no hit, Flock is building a giant camera network that records people’s comings and goings across the nation. It then makes that data available for any of its law enforcement customers.” — ACLU statement
What’s Next
The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy will assess the status of Lynch’s and Echeverry’s certifications, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division continues its investigation into the incident. Nationwide, municipalities are reviewing ALPR policies, and several cities have announced upcoming public hearings on surveillance technology use.
