The rapidly expanding network of Flock Safety automated license plate readers (ALPRs) is marketed to the public as the ultimate tool for catching violent criminals and solving kidnappings. But privacy advocates have long warned that handing over untethered, mass-surveillance power to local police departments is a recipe for abuse.
This week, in Fort Pierce, Florida, that nightmare scenario played out in the worst way possible.
A now-former Fort Pierce police officer, Josepher Crutchfield, was arrested on September 8, 2026, and slapped with four felony counts of unauthorized computer access after a criminal investigation revealed he was using the city’s ALPR network as his own personal stalking device.
“No Legitimate Law Enforcement Purpose”
According to the initial broadcast by CBS 12 News, the sheer scale of the digital harassment is staggering…