Documented Incident
Three Cheektowaga dispatchers suspended after internal audit finds Flock ALPR misuse
First reported: September 30, 2026 · 13 sources
The Cheektowaga Police Department says three public safety dispatchers have been suspended following an internal audit that found they allegedly used the Flock automated license plate reader system to run searches on a fellow employee's plate over a period of months without that employee's knowledge. Police Chief Brian Coons said an investigation was opened to determine the scope of the violations and whether members of the public were also targeted. The department said all three were suspended for multiple policy violations and that it has tightened its policies and procedures.
The case shows that ALPR misuse by personnel can persist for months and was surfaced only by an internal audit, raising questions for other agencies about how routinely search logs are reviewed and who is notified when a system is abused.
Key facts
- Three Cheektowaga, N.Y. public safety dispatchers were suspended over alleged Flock ALPR misuse.
- An internal audit found the alleged searches targeted another employee's license plate over a period of months.
- Chief Brian Coons said an investigation is examining the scope of the violations and whether the public was targeted.
- The department says it has tightened policies and procedures; the allegations have not been adjudicated and no charges were reported.
Timeline
- September 30, 20263 Cheektowaga dispatchers suspended over Flock misuse
- October 1, 20263 Cheektowaga Police dispatchers suspended for Flock camera misuse
- September 30, 2026Cheektowaga police officer , dispatchers suspended , alleged misuse Flock cameras
- October 15, 2026No charges for three Cheektowaga police employees who misused Flock camera data
- October 15, 2026No charges for three Cheektowaga police employees who misused Flock camera data
- October 15, 2026Cheektowaga dispatchers suspended for Flock misuse won't be charged
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- 3 Cheektowaga dispatchers suspended over Flock misuse (WIVB News 4, September 30, 2026)
- 3 Cheektowaga Police dispatchers suspended for Flock camera misuse (Spectrum News, October 1, 2026)
- Cheektowaga police officer, dispatchers suspended for alleged misuse of Flock cameras to track fellow employee (WKBW, September 30, 2026)
- Cheektowaga Police Suspended Over License Plate Camera Misuse (wyrk.com, October 1, 2026)
- Cheektowaga Police Suspended Over License Plate Camera Misuse (wblk.com, October 1, 2026)
- 3 Cheektowaga police dispatchers suspended for misuse of Flock cameras (WGRZ, September 30, 2026)
- 3 Cheektowaga dispatchers suspended over Flock misuse (yahoo.com, September 30, 2026)
- Cheektowaga police officer , dispatchers suspended , alleged misuse Flock cameras (wkbw.com, September 30, 2026)
- 3 Cheektowaga Police dispatchers suspended for Flock camera misuse (Spectrum News, October 1, 2026)
- No charges for three Cheektowaga police employees who misused Flock camera data (WKBW, October 15, 2026)
- No charges for three Cheektowaga police employees who misused Flock camera data (Wkbw, October 15, 2026)
- Cheektowaga dispatchers suspended for Flock misuse won't be charged (Wivb, October 15, 2026)
- Cheektowaga dispatchers suspended for Flock misuse won’t be charged (Yahoo, October 15, 2026)
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About this record
BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated October 16, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.