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Georgetown Officer Charged Over Alleged Misuse of Flock License-Plate Readers
By Drooid · · How we work
Misuse of Flock Cameras by Officer Justin Craig
Georgetown, Indiana police officer Justin Craig was arrested on charges of official misconduct and two counts of fraud after an internal review found he accessed the city’s Flock automated license-plate reader (ALPR) system hundreds of times without a legitimate investigative purpose. Court documents indicate Craig searched his wife’s license plate more than 80 times and a “previous acquaintance” of hers nearly 250 times between January and July of 2026. The searches were labeled as traffic violations, narcotics, assault/battery, theft and stolen-vehicle matters, despite no connection to any active case.
Background on Flock Technology and Prior Concerns
Flock provides ALPR cameras and software to over 4,800 law-enforcement agencies and nearly 1,000 private entities, operating roughly 120,000 cameras nationwide that conduct about two billion scans each month. The technology has faced bipartisan criticism for privacy risks and for being used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Prior reports have documented officers in multiple states allegedly using the system to stalk former partners or monitor individuals seeking abortions.
Investigation Findings and Legal Charges
ISP investigators met with the Georgetown police chief in September, and the department’s internal audit confirmed the searches were unrelated to any authorized investigation. Craig was taken into custody on an arrest warrant, released on bond, and faces a motion to dismiss the charges.
Official Responses
- Matthew Lemme, Craig’s attorney, argued that the alleged conduct does not violate any existing law or department policy and called for legislative or policy clarification to address privacy concerns.
- The Georgetown Police Department placed Craig on paid administrative leave in August 2026, and announced that no further information would be released pending the criminal case.
- Indiana State Police stated that the investigation demonstrated a breach of policy and that the officer accessed the system without lawful purpose.
Implications for Privacy and Policy Debate
The case adds to growing scrutiny of ALPR deployments, highlighting gaps between technology capabilities and existing oversight. Advocates for stricter regulation argue that the incident underscores the need for clear statutes governing law-enforcement use of license-plate data, while some officials caution against pre-emptive criminal charges before policy reforms are enacted. The outcome may influence future legislative efforts to balance investigative utility with individual privacy rights.