MOORESVILLE, NC – The Mooresville Police Department out of North Carolina is reportedly tightening up the department’s policies regarding the use of automated license plate readers after one of the department’s officers was criminally charged for allegedly misusing the Flock camera system.
Earlier in August, Mooresville Police Chief Ron Campurciani announced that one of their officers, 36-year-old Elizabeth Snowman, is facing a criminal charge of accessing computers following alleged misuse of the department's camera system. According to officials, Officer Snowman was using the department’s license plate readers to track the whereabouts of her boyfriend’s ex-wife, allegedly conducting 31 unauthorized uses of the system.
At the time of the announcement. Chief Campurciani noted the alleged misuse of the system was discovered during a routine audit, adding that immediate measures were being taken to deter such alleged abuses of the camera system. The department has since unveiled new policies that officials believe will be effective in combatting unauthorized uses of Flock cameras.
Among the updated policies are now requirements that officers accessing the system must provide detailed case information when conducting searches, thereby making it easier for department officials to conduct audits and spot any potential misuse.
In the wake of Officer Snowman’s arrest, officials within the Mooresville Police Department, and other law enforcement entities across North Carolina, have expressed concerns that incidents such as the allegations levied against Officer Snowman could result in a loss to a critical tool assisting law enforcement.
“This is a tool we don't want to lose, and we are certainly not going to let it get lost because we have rogue officers out there who think they can do whatever they want,” Chief Campurciani stated.
Additional audits conducted by the Mooresville Police Department regarding their camera system did not uncover any other alleged criminal acts, but officials did confirm other policy violations were discovered and are being addressed.
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