Documented Incident
Former Amarillo officer charged with 78 counts after alleged personal use of Flock cameras
First reported: September 1, 2026 · 7 sources
Christian Eder, 29, a former Amarillo Police Department officer, faces 78 counts of tampering with a government record over allegations he ran Flock license plate reader searches 76 times to track a man he viewed as a romantic rival. Records obtained by KVII indicate the man had previously dated a fellow officer in whom Eder had expressed romantic interest. Eder turned himself in at the Potter County Detention Center and has been released on bond; the allegations have not been tested in court. Police Chief Thomas Hover declined an interview and said he will not discuss Flock cameras until he briefs the City Council.
The case tests whether audit systems catch ALPR misuse internally or only after a member of the public complains, and Amarillo's pending policy review could set terms for whether the city keeps the cameras at all.
Key facts
- Eder faces 78 counts of tampering with a government record; prosecutors allege 76 improper Flock searches.
- He turned himself in at the Potter County Detention Center and was released on bond.
- Councilman Les Simpson (Place 4) said the council will decide on governing policies first, then assess whether to keep the cameras, describing residents as divided.
- Chief Hover declined an interview; APD's press release did not address why the alleged misuse surfaced only after the man raised concerns or whether other officers' searches are being reviewed.
Timeline
- September 1, 2026Former Amarillo officer accused of misusing Flock cameras to track romantic rival
- September 4, 2026Former APD Officer Charged With Misusing Flock Cameras
- September 14, 2026Former Amarillo officer accused of using FLOCK to stalk romantic rival
- September 15, 2026Former Amarillo officer accused of Flock misuse previously suspended over police chase
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Former Amarillo officer accused of misusing Flock cameras to track romantic rival (KVII, September 1, 2026)
- Former APD Officer Charged With Misusing Flock Cameras (kfox95.com, September 4, 2026)
- Former APD Officer Charged With Misusing Flock Cameras (lonestar995fm.com, September 4, 2026)
- Former APD Officer Charged With Misusing Flock Cameras (1025kiss.com, September 4, 2026)
- Former Amarillo officer accused of using FLOCK to stalk romantic rival (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, September 14, 2026)
- Former Amarillo officer accused of Flock misuse previously suspended over police chase (abc7amarillo.com, September 15, 2026)
- Former Amarillo officer accused of using FLOCK to stalk romantic rival (Amarillo Globe-News, September 14, 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 September 18, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.