Putnam County Maintains Local Control Over License Plate Readers Putnam County law enforcement officials have reaffirmed that license plate reader (LPR) technology remains under local jurisdiction, emphasizing that the system operates independently of commercial camera networks. Sheriff Brian Hess and Undersheriff James Menton testified before the county legislature’s Protective Services Committee on September 10, 2026, addressing public concerns sparked by national media coverage of the Flock Safety camera system. The discussion followed reports highlighting the risks of commercially operated camera networks that store footage in private company clouds, enable nationwide searches by law enforcement agencies, and allow data retrieval without resident consent. The Flock Safety system, which is also deployed by Newburgh City Police, has faced significant opposition from residents who fear its broad data access and potential privacy violations. In contrast, Putnam County officials clarified that their LPR system was intentionally designed to avoid such risks. Sheriff Hess stated that the county opted not to join any commercial camera network, ensuring all data is stored on a government server in Westchester County. This server is managed by regional law enforcement and is not accessible through a national search network. He emphasized that the system does not involve facial recognition, driver or passenger identification, or monitoring of ordinary residents. Additionally, the LPRs are not speed cameras and do not issue citations. According to data from the sheriff’s department, the county’s 21 active fixed LPR sites generated 808 investigative alerts between January 1 and mid-August 2026.#putnam_county #flock_safety #sheriff_brian_hess #undersheriff_james_menton #protective_services_committee
NY Sheriff’s Investigator Arrested for Misusing Flock Cameras to Track Ex-Girlfriend A sheriff’s investigator in Upstate New York has been arrested after allegedly misusing the Flock Safety camera system to track a former girlfriend’s vehicle over 3,000 times and conduct thousands of unauthorized searches. Laurie Moore, 47, a senior investigator with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, faces misdemeanor charges of second-degree falsifying business records and official misconduct. The arrest followed an investigation prompted by an outside source, according to Sheriff Craig Apple, who confirmed Moore’s arrest on Wednesday. Moore is accused of using the Flock license plate reader system to run more than 4,000 unauthorized searches involving five individuals known to her. The alleged misconduct includes tracking her ex-girlfriend’s vehicle approximately 3,000 times and running four additional license plates hundreds of times each. The sheriff’s office stated that Moore’s access to the Flock system began in late 2024, after which the department tightened its restrictions. Currently, only supervisors with approved access can use the system, and the data undergoes a 30-day audit process reviewed by Internal Affairs. The sheriff emphasized that the breach of trust underscores the need for accountability, stating, “What happened here is a breach of that trust. And for that, I’m truly sorry. But let me be clear. It also demonstrates that when somebody abuses that trust, we’ll hold them accountable.” Moore was suspended from her position at the sheriff’s office and is scheduled to appear in court on September 24. Additionally, an unnamed command staff member was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.#flock_safety #albany_county_sheriff_s_office #laurie_moore #craig_apple #sheriff_s_office
Flock Cameras Vanish from Minnesota City as Surveillance Debate Intensifies Winona, Minnesota, is grappling with a theft that has left its police department scrambling to recover eight license plate readers operated by Flock Safety. The devices, which are designed to assist law enforcement in tracking vehicles, disappeared between July 29 and August 1. Police discovered the thefts after noticing the system had failed to record recent activity. Upon inspecting the four locations where the cameras were installed, officers found the mounting poles cut near their bases and discarded in nearby weeds, with the camera equipment itself missing. Each stolen unit and its pole will cost approximately $3,000 to replace, leaving the department with an estimated $24,000 bill. The thefts have sparked concerns about the security of Flock’s technology, as similar incidents have been reported in other Minnesota communities. In Duluth, at least five devices were stolen or damaged between June and July, while in Plymouth, one camera was found in pieces beneath its pole, and another had its power cord cut. Similar incidents have also occurred in Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Anoka County. Despite the widespread damage, most cases remain unsolved. However, a theft in Faribault led to an arrest. A 42-year-old man was charged after allegedly removing a reader from a 10-foot pole and bringing it to a local shop. According to the criminal complaint, the man had previously told an acquaintance that the devices could “track him coming and leaving the city” and claimed, “I think I might take one.” Police later recovered the equipment from his garage, with black tape covering its lens.#minnesota #winona_minnesota #flock_safety #duluth_minnesota #plymouth_minnesota
