Documented Incident
Illinois officials weigh new ALPR limits as Flock misuse allegations mount across Chicago area
First reported: September 13, 2026 · 6 sources
The Chicago Tribune reported on a growing number of alleged misuse cases involving Flock and other automated license plate reader systems, including a former Kenosha County, Wisconsin sheriff's deputy charged with two felony counts of misconduct in public office and a McHenry County-area police chief, William Copp, who prosecutors allege ran roughly 250 searches on former romantic partners and their associates. Officers in Bloomingdale, West Chicago, Itasca and Channahon have been placed on administrative leave over alleged improper use. Suburban police chiefs told the Tribune the cameras remain valuable investigative tools but require auditing and oversight, while the ACLU of Illinois and the Institute for Justice argue internal audits are insufficient and warrants or stricter legal limits are needed. A pending bill, the Automated License Plate Recognition System Act, would narrow permitted uses and require data deletion within three days; it remains in committee.
The reporting shows how ALPR accountability in Illinois is being tested simultaneously through criminal charges, state audits, local contract cancellations and proposed legislation — a mix other states are likely to face. It also highlights the unresolved question of whether agency self-auditing is adequate oversight for searchable, statewide vehicle location databases.
Key facts
- Former Kenosha County deputy Frank McGrath was charged last month with two felony counts of misconduct in public office; a complaint says he listed 'suspicious' as the reason for at least 16 searches. Charges are allegations, not findings.
- William Copp, Holiday Hills police chief and part-time Prairie Grove officer, faces felony misconduct charges; one man said in an order-of-protection petition that Copp searched for him 178 times.
- Illinois' secretary of state ordered Flock to cut off U.S. Customs and Border Protection access after an audit found the federal agency had illegally accessed the system; Evanston deactivated its cameras and Homer Glen voted last month to suspend its program.
- Chicago's Office of Public Safety Administration reported more than 200 million plate reads in a recent 30-day period using about 900 Genetec fixed cameras and roughly 600 vehicle-mounted units, with 30-day retention.
- Flock says one-third of customers have adopted its new 'audit assistance' flagging feature voluntarily and that it will be required by the end of the year.
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Police say Flock is invaluable. But as misuse mounts, many wonder how to rein in the surveillance system. (Chicago Tribune, September 13, 2026)
- Police say Flock is invaluable. But as misuse mounts, many wonder how to rein in the surveillance system (Daily Herald, September 13, 2026)
- Police say Flock is invaluable. But as misuse mounts, many wonder how to rein in the surveillance system (Dailygazette.com, September 16, 2026)
- Police say Flock is invaluable. But as misuse mounts, many wonder how to rein in the surveillance system (Lodinews, September 16, 2026)
- Police say Flock is invaluable. But as misuse mounts, many wonder how to rein in the surveillance system (Hanford Sentinel, September 16, 2026)
- Police say Flock is invaluable. But as misuse mounts, many wonder how to rein in the surveillance system (The Brunswick News, September 16, 2026)
More from Illinois
Everything we have documented in Illinois, or search every Illinois article in the archive.
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 16, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.