Documented Incident
Joliet Police Lieutenant's Firing Over Alleged Flock Misuse Stalls Amid Transcript Dispute
Event: July 1, 2025 · First reported: August 20, 2026 · 7 sources
Joliet, Illinois police Lt. Jeremy Harrison, a 26-year department veteran, was placed on paid leave in July 2025 and then terminated in December 2025 by then-Chief Bill Evans over allegations he used the department's Flock license plate reader system to track a female officer's vehicle. The termination notice alleges roughly 153 searches of the officer's plate across about eight occasions in July 2025, and that Harrison selected search justifications such as 'wanted,' 'stolen' or 'reckless' that the department says were not accurate. Harrison appealed to Joliet's five-member Police and Fire Commission, which held closed-door hearings in May 2026 but has not issued a final decision. His attorney, Michael Ettinger, says the city used a tape recorder rather than a court reporter and that transcripts were delayed roughly 90 days; the city's outside counsel later provided them, with final written arguments due Sept. 21.
The case tests whether audit logs and stated search reasons in ALPR systems can support meaningful discipline, and how long civil service appeal processes can leave such allegations unresolved.
Key facts
- Termination notice alleges about 153 Flock searches of one officer's license plate over roughly eight occasions in July 2025, with no active investigation involving her vehicle
- Chief Bill Evans announced the firing in a Dec. 22 internal affairs memo; Evans has since retired
- Harrison's attorney Michael Ettinger denies any rule violation, saying the searches were for proper purposes
- A five-member Joliet Police and Fire Commission must make the final ruling; no further hearings were scheduled as of Aug. 20, 2026
- Ettinger objected to the city's use of tape recording instead of a court reporter and to simultaneous written closing arguments; transcripts were released after roughly 90 days
Timeline
- August 20, 2026Flock Camera Firing At Joliet PD: Jeremy Harrison's Lawyer 'There Is Something Wrong With The Tapes'
- August 20, 2026Flock Camera Firing At Joliet PD: City Hall Won't Produce Lt. Jeremy Harrison Termination Tapes, Lawyer Says
- August 20, 2026Flock Camera Firing At Joliet PD : Jeremy Harrison Lawyer Says Complaining Witness Did Not Testify
- September 15, 2026Joliet police lieutenant accused of Flock misuse seeks termination hearing audio
- September 15, 2026Joliet police lieutenant accused of Flock misuse seeks termination hearing audio
- October 7, 2026Joliet police lieutenant charged with felony computer tampering of Flock Safety program
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Flock Camera Firing At Joliet PD: Jeremy Harrison's Lawyer 'There Is Something Wrong With The Tapes' (Patch, August 20, 2026)
- Flock Camera Firing At Joliet PD: City Hall Won't Produce Lt. Jeremy Harrison Termination Tapes, Lawyer Says (Patch, August 20, 2026)
- Flock Camera Firing At Joliet PD : Jeremy Harrison Lawyer Says Complaining Witness Did Not Testify (patch.com, August 20, 2026)
- Joliet police lieutenant accused of Flock misuse seeks termination hearing audio (Shaw Local, September 15, 2026)
- Joliet police lieutenant accused of Flock misuse seeks termination hearing audio (Shaw Local, September 15, 2026)
- Joliet police board to consider releasing audio from termination hearing for officer accused of Flock misuse (Shaw Local, September 17, 2026)
- Joliet police lieutenant charged with felony computer tampering of Flock Safety program (Shaw Local, October 7, 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 9, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.