By Eve 
A Wisconsin police officer’s recent arrest is renewing concerns about how law enforcement agencies use automated license plate reader systems such as those operated by Flock Safety, particularly when it comes to internal accountability.
Cristian Morales, a 31-year-old officer with the Menasha Police Department, appeared in court Friday after being arrested earlier in the week. Morales is charged with one count of misconduct in public office, a Class I felony. If convicted, the charge carries a potential sentence of up to three and a half years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The case centers on allegations that Morales improperly used the department’s Flock Safety system to search for vehicles connected to a private individual. According to investigators, the situation came to light not through internal monitoring, but after the alleged victim contacted the Appleton Police Department with concerns about possible misuse of surveillance tools.
Investigators allege Morales conducted seven searches within the Flock system between October 7 and October 14. Five of those searches reportedly involved vehicles belonging to the complainant, while two involved a vehicle owned by the complainant’s brother. One search on October 9 was logged with a stated purpose of welfare. Authorities say Morales later admitted he accessed the system while off duty and acknowledged that the searches were improper.
Morales allegedly told investigators his actions were driven by poor judgment, exhaustion, and personal stress. He also admitted knowing that his use of the system violated policy.
The Wisconsin case is not an isolated incident. In Sandy Springs, Georgia, a police officer was fired after being accused of misusing a similar system. That case involved allegations of corporate espionage rather than stalking, and the issue reportedly surfaced only after the company involved raised concerns. Neither the department nor the surveillance provider identified the misuse on their own.
A similar situation unfolded in Joplin, Missouri, where an officer was dismissed for inappropriate use of license plate reader data. Authorities there have said the Missouri State Highway Patrol is reviewing whether criminal charges are warranted. In that instance, the improper activity was uncovered only after a citizen requested public records related to camera usage.
Across all three cases, the common thread is that misuse was exposed by private individuals rather than internal safeguards. The incidents raise broader questions about oversight, transparency, and whether surveillance systems are monitored as closely as the public is often told.
Shawn Henry