Full Breakdown
Police Misuse of Flock License-Plate Readers Sparks Criminal Charges and Policy Overhaul
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Indianapolis Officer Faces 26 Criminal Counts
Jonathan Schultz, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officer, was arrested on 26 criminal counts—including 12 counts of official misconduct, 12 counts of fraud and two counts of stalking—after investigators said he used Flock’s automated license-plate reader (ALPR) system to track the plates of at least a dozen individuals, most of whom he did not know. Prosecutors allege Schultz performed nearly 1,400 searches lacking a legitimate law-enforcement purpose between 2023 and 2026. An initial hearing was scheduled after a Marion County judge found probable cause; no defense attorney was listed in the court file at the time of reporting.
Background & Context
Flock Safety’s cameras capture license-plate data, vehicle make, model, color, location and timestamp, and are marketed as tools for locating stolen vehicles, missing persons and other public-safety needs. Reports of police misuse have emerged in at least 12 states, prompting a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on the technology’s data-collection, access and retention practices. In August 2026 IMPD adopted a new ALPR policy requiring officers to enter a case number and specific crime before searching, to retain camera footage for 30 days and to keep search histories indefinitely.
Data & Statistics
- Schultz: 26 criminal counts; prosecutors cite ~1,400 inappropriate searches; court records list 300 documented Flock searches.
- Maldonado (Naperville, IL): Internal investigation uncovered roughly 150 Flock searches of plaintiff Patrick Dowhen’s vehicle over three months.
- Other officers: Five IMPD officers were placed on administrative duty on September 23; four remain suspended pending termination recommendations.
- National scope: At least 14 cases identified in the Chicago area, with five referred to prosecutors for review.
Official Statements & Responses
Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said the department took the complaint “seriously” and acted “immediately,” pledging ongoing audits and safeguards.
Criticism & Opposition
Senator Josh Hawley warned that lawmakers must ensure “our Bill of Rights is still good no matter what the technology of the day is.” Sheriff Ross Teeple (Pinal County, AZ) declared, “I will never allow technology to supersede your rights.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today is a deeply disheartening and disappointing day for IMPD. These individuals’ actions went far beyond a clerical error or a violation of department policy. These actions crossed into criminal conduct and shook the foundation of trust that our agency is built upon,” — Chief Terry
- “Our Bill of Rights is still good no matter what the technology of the day is,” — Josh Hawley
- “I will never allow technology to supersede your rights,” — Sheriff Ross Teeple
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Prosecutors claim Schultz conducted “nearly 1,400” improper searches, while court filings enumerate 300 specific searches. The discrepancy has not been resolved in public filings. Additionally, while the internal Naperville investigation documented over 100 pieces of evidence of misconduct, the department closed the case without imposing discipline after Maldonado retired, leaving the final disciplinary outcome unclear.
What’s Next
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism will continue hearings on Flock’s data practices. IMPD’s new ALPR policy, effective August 2026, mandates case-number entry and indefinite retention of search logs. Naperville has updated its Flock use policy and reported the Maldonado case to the Illinois Law Enforcement and Training Standards Board. Decatur’s internal affairs investigation, launched on June 12, remains active, with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency conducting a parallel review.