Documented Incident
Records: Naperville officer ran hundreds of personal Flock plate searches, resigned amid probe
Event: June 18, 2025 · First reported: September 23, 2026 · 3 sources
Documents obtained by the Naperville Sun through a FOIA request show former Naperville police officer Oscar Maldonado used Flock Safety license plate reader data hundreds of times between June 18, 2025, and Sept. 15, 2025, for non-police purposes, including tracking a woman he was dating and her ex-fiance. The department opened an internal investigation after a citizen complaint; Maldonado was placed on administrative leave and resigned in May before the probe concluded. The internal report found he violated multiple department rules and stated there was a preponderance of evidence that he committed official misconduct. Maldonado told investigators he acted out of concern for his own and others' safety, and his attorney, Patty Kalkanis, disputes that his conduct amounted to a crime, arguing Illinois law does not clearly prohibit such use of Flock.
The case shows that ALPR misuse by officers may surface only through citizen complaints and public records requests, and it highlights unsettled questions about whether personal use of plate reader databases is criminally punishable under existing Illinois law.
Key facts
- FOIA records indicate hundreds of non-police-related plate lookups between June 18, 2025, and Sept. 15, 2025.
- Naperville police referred the matter to the Will County Sheriff's Office for an independent criminal investigation; it was later sent to the state's attorney's office, which would not confirm or deny a review.
- Maldonado resigned in May before the internal probe finished; no charges have been reported.
- Naperville police reported the resignation and investigation to the Illinois Law Enforcement and Training Standards Board and updated its ALPR policy this month to add an auditing section.
- The ex-fiance filed a stalking no contact order last year that was later dropped in favor of a mutual stay-away order, according to Maldonado's attorney.
Timeline
- September 23, 2026Naperville police officer used Flock technology to stalk people, records show
- September 23, 2026Patrick Dowhen says Naperville Police Officer Oscar Maldonado used Flock cameras to stalk him after starting affair with fiancée
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Naperville police officer used Flock technology to stalk people, records show (Chicago Tribune, September 23, 2026)
- Naperville police officer used Flock technology to stalk people, records show (Daily Herald, September 23, 2026)
- Patrick Dowhen says Naperville Police Officer Oscar Maldonado used Flock cameras to stalk him after starting affair with fiancée (abc7chicago.com, September 23, 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 3, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.