HOUSTON, TX- At a time when police use of Flock cameras is under scrutiny nationwide, some police officers are not helping the cause by their alleged misuse of these systems.
In Houston, the department is investigating certain usage of the camera system for potential policy violations, without disclosing how many officers were being investigated, KPRC-2 Houston reported.
“Any policy violations discovered will be investigated by HPD’s Internal Affairs Division. During the audit process, some accounts have been placed on hold,” the agency said in a statement to KPRC 2.
Houston Police Officers’ Union President Douglas Griffith said the Flock company may have flagged the issue first.
“I believe the Flock company themselves flagged a number of our officers because the number of times used or the case number or whatever it was that caused their algorithm to spit out a couple of officers that are involved. So, they then turned it over to HPD,” Griffith said.
While Griffith said he isn’t personally involved in the internal investigation, he believes most of the alleged misuse comes down to training issues rather than any kind of misconduct.
“For the most part, it’s going to be minor issues, things that are training related, and other things can be just completely debunked or explained away,” he said. He further said he was not aware of any inappropriate behavior or potential stalking being involved in any of the alleged misuse; however, he didn’t rule it out.
“Not that we’re aware of yet. I wouldn’t doubt that we have a case or two. This job is like any other; we’re going to have people do dumb things. We deal with those appropriately and move forward,” he said.
He said that the ones who use the system the most are likely getting the most attention simply due to the volume of their searches.
“A lot of the guys that use it on a regular basis are being looked at just because of the sheer numbers of cars that they run,” he continued.
In a statement, the agency said:
“The use of automated license plate recognition systems by Houston Police Department personnel is regularly reviewed. The department has identified usage that is being investigated further. Any policy violations discovered will be investigated by HPD’s Internal Affairs Division. During the audit process, some accounts have been placed on hold.
Further information about HPD’s use of automated license plate recognition systems as an investigative tool is available in General Order 400-29, which is publicly available on the department’s website.”
The investigation in Houston is the latest involving area police departments and alleged misuse of Flock cameras.
In Katy, Texas, former police officer Sergio Guadalupe Rodriguez was charged with stalking and misuse of official information after he allegedly used the Flock system to track his ex-wife. He also allegedly placed a tracker on her vehicle.
Meanwhile, other cities in the Houston metro are debating about continuing to use the cameras. League City has a measure on the November ballot asking city residents if they should continue using the system.
In Conroe, the city council voted earlier this month whether to place a binding proposition regarding the city’s Flock cameras on the November ballot. It did not receive the required number of votes to move forward.
Comments