Police officer used Flock cameras to track estranged wife 717 times
A Florida police officer has been arrested for allegedly using automated license plate reader technology to track his estranged wife 717 times. The officer faces charges of official misconduct and computer misuse after admitting to the unauthorized surveillance.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing concerns regarding the potential for law enforcement surveillance tools to be weaponized for personal stalking and domestic abuse.
A Central Florida police officer is accused of using Flock camera technology to track his estranged wife’s vehicle 717 times over a 21-month period, according to an affidavit.
According to Polk County online court records, Christopher Anthony Goodson, 31, an officer with the Haines City Police Department, was arrested on Aug. 11. He was charged with one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices; and one count of official misconduct, according to an arrest affidavit.
Goodson, who has been an officer with the Haines City Police Department since March 2022, was placed on paid administrative leave, WTVT reported.
According to court records, Goodson informed his supervisor on Aug. 10 that he had made “several inquiries” on the Flock camera platform -- an automated program that reads license plates -- into his estranged wife’s vehicle.
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