Eastpointe police chief says two officers misused Flock license plate search tools

Event: September 16, 2026 · First reported: September 16, 2026 · 1 source

Eastpointe, Michigan, Police Chief Corey K. Haines said internal investigations determined two department employees misused Flock Safety license plate reader search tools — one for personal purposes and one in violation of policy. The investigations began after USA TODAY reporters flagged unusual search activity in audit logs obtained through records requests; the officer who searched for personal reasons received what Haines described as "severe discipline," while the second matter remains under investigation. The announcement came a day after the City Council voted to end the city's contract with Flock. Haines said the officers would not be identified, citing exemptions for personnel records.

Why this matters

The findings came from journalists reviewing publicly released audit logs rather than from internal detection, raising questions about how agencies monitor ALPR searches. Eastpointe is one of several Metro Detroit communities that have recently ended Flock contracts, a pattern other localities may look to as they weigh renewals.

Key facts

Haines said both employees misused Flock; one received "severe discipline" and the second case remains under investigation. Neither was publicly identified.
A USA TODAY database indicated one Eastpointe officer ran more than 600 searches for a single vehicle between August 2024 and June 2025, and another searched one plate more than 60 times in a single day in July 2024.
Eastpointe installed 18 Flock cameras in 2024 under a contract signed March 19, 2024: $14,100 for installation plus a $56,500 annual subscription, worth $127,100 over two years; it auto-renewed for two more years in March 2026.
Mayor Michael Klinefelt, who proposed ending the contract, said residents had raised surveillance concerns and the council found it prudent to discontinue Flock use.
A USA TODAY investigation using audit logs from more than 120 agencies in 24 states, covering about 75 million searches, reported at least 22 previously undetected instances of improper or illegal Flock use in five states. Flock did not respond to a request for comment about Eastpointe's cancellation.

Sources

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

Eastpointe officers used Flock access improperly, chief says (The Detroit News, September 16, 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 17, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.