Two Chicago-area departments investigate officers accused of misusing Flock license plate data

First reported: August 28, 2026 · 1 source

WGN-TV reported that at least two police departments in the Chicago region are examining officers accused of misusing Flock automated license plate reader systems. The Porter County, Indiana Sheriff's Office demoted and suspended an officer without pay over a search run on a resident's plate, while a Channahon, Illinois officer was placed on leave pending an internal investigation. Channahon Police Chief Adam Bogart said the suspected misuse surfaced during an internal audit that flagged irregular searches. The ACLU of Illinois called for statewide oversight, while police officials pointed to an Oak Lawn case in which they said Flock helped identify a suspect within minutes.

Why this matters

The cases illustrate that ALPR misuse is often detected only through internal audits, raising questions about what oversight exists where such audits are not required. Illinois lawmakers are weighing statewide rules on access and retention, a template other states may follow.

Key facts

The Porter County, Indiana Sheriff's Office demoted an officer and suspended them without pay for searching a resident's license plate in Flock.
A Channahon, Illinois officer is on leave during an internal investigation; Chief Adam Bogart said an internal audit found irregular searches.
Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Illinois said the camera network is largely unregulated and lacks accountability, and called for state-level oversight.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) opened an investigation into Flock this week, citing more than 120,000 cameras in 49 states and 20 billion vehicle scans monthly.
Oak Lawn Police Chief Dan Vittorio said his department receives weekly audits from Flock and is building a public transparency portal.
Proposed Illinois House legislation would set standards on ALPR use, data access and retention; it has not been enacted.

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

Privacy concerns mount amid police misconduct probes regarding use of Flock automated license plate reader technology (WGN-TV, August 28, 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 August 30, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.