Texas officer indicted on 100 felony counts after 45,000 database searches
A Texas police officer has been indicted on 100 felony counts for misusing an automated license plate reader system to conduct over 45,000 searches. The investigation revealed he frequently targeted specific individuals without valid law enforcement justifications.
Why it matters
This case highlights significant privacy and accountability concerns regarding the use of mass surveillance technology by law enforcement agencies.
A Lufkin, Texas police officer has been indicted on 100 felony counts after an investigation into his use of Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader system revealed an extraordinary volume of searches, including nearly 3,500 lookups of a single licence plate. According to court records and audit logs reviewed by the Houston Chronicle and local Texas outlets, 32-year-old Officer Zachary Anthony Klein conducted more than 45,000 searches over roughly 200 days, far exceeding typical usage patterns in the department. He was charged last week with misuse of official information, prompting the Lufkin Police Department to suspend its use of Flock entirely and call in the Texas Rangers for an independent review.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in