Full Breakdown
Police Officers Accused of Misusing Flock License-Plate Readers for Personal Tracking
8/13/2026, 4:07:53 AM
Core Event
Police officers in three U.S. jurisdictions have been accused of using the Flock automatic license-plate reader (ALPR) system to monitor the movements of former romantic partners or other personal contacts. In New Bedford, Massachusetts, Officer Emily Pacheco was alleged in an affidavit to have run dozens of “traffic-infraction” searches on her ex-girlfriend’s plate after the relationship ended in April 2024. In Haines City, Florida, Officer Christopher Goodson is charged with official misconduct after an affidavit documented 717 searches of his estranged wife’s vehicle between 2024 and 2026. In Mauldin, South Carolina, former Officer Ellie Anna Hammond was terminated on August 3 2026 after separation papers indicated she accessed the system 166 times from March to July 2026, logging each entry under “Warrant Check,” “Traffic Infraction,” or “Welfare Check.”
Background & Context
Flock’s ALPR network captures the make, model, color and license plate of every vehicle that passes its 20 cameras in New Bedford and additional cameras in surrounding towns, as well as cameras across the state. Department policy requires officers to sign a memorandum of understanding that forbids personal or harassing use of the system and warns that violations may lead to criminal prosecution, civil liability and immediate termination of system access. The technology has been adopted by numerous municipalities nationwide, but few have enacted statutory safeguards; Massachusetts, for example, lacks the legal guardrails that other New England states have adopted.
Official Statements & Responses
“When the individual makes a complaint against the officer for stalking him or being aggressive, we would be able to back into that and find it, and that may turn a misconduct investigation into a termination case,” — Jason Thody, police chief. The New Bedford Police Union confirmed an internal affairs investigation is underway but declined further comment. Haines City Police Chief Isaac Jackson called the incident “unfortunate” and affirmed the department’s support for “all appropriate investigative measures.” The Mauldin Police Department terminated Hammond and stripped her certification, citing misconduct.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- New Bedford officials have not disclosed the specific license-plate numbers or vehicle characteristics entered in the searches, limiting public assessment of the scope of alleged misuse.
- The city’s data for July 2024 are unavailable, creating an incomplete picture of ongoing activity.
- No court outcome has been reported for Officer Pacheco’s abuse-prevention order; a further hearing is scheduled for later this month without a precise date.
- Haines City authorities have not released the results of the criminal investigation beyond the arrest and pending resignation.
What’s Next
- New Bedford city councilors have filed motions calling for a hearing with city officials and for the immediate cessation of Flock use until an ordinance regulating the technology is adopted; both motions are slated for a council session in August.
- Haines City will hold a court hearing later this week to consider extending the abuse-prevention order against Goodson.
- The Mauldin Police Department’s termination of Hammond may prompt further internal audits, though no additional public statements have been issued.
