Documented Incident
Stockton police internal probe into possible Flock camera misuse ends with employee's departure
Event: September 22, 2026 · First reported: September 23, 2026 · 2 sources
Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden told a city audit committee that a routine monthly audit of Flock automated license plate reader access flagged potential misconduct by a department employee, prompting an internal investigation. The department said the employee's access was immediately restricted, other databases were reviewed, and the employee's last day was Aug. 19. Police declined to describe the nature of the alleged misuse or say whether the employee was a sworn officer. McFadden said the district attorney's office and the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training were notified.
The case illustrates both that periodic audits of ALPR access can surface suspected misuse and that agencies may disclose little about what occurred, leaving the public and oversight bodies without details on how the system was used.
Key facts
- Chief Stanley McFadden disclosed the investigation at a Stockton city audit meeting; a monthly Flock audit triggered it.
- The employee's access was restricted immediately and the employee's last day was Aug. 19.
- Stockton police would not say what the alleged misconduct involved or whether the employee was an officer.
- The district attorney's office and California POST were notified, according to McFadden; no charges or findings have been reported.
- Council member Michele Padilla, District 1, defended the cameras, saying they are used solely to fight crime and credited the technology with aiding arrests — claims not independently verified in the report.
Timeline
- September 23, 2026Stockton police investigate potential misuse of Flock cameras
- September 25, 2026Stockton police boost oversight after officer misused Flock license plate tracking system
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Stockton police investigate potential misuse of Flock cameras (KCRA, September 23, 2026)
- Stockton police boost oversight after officer misused Flock license plate tracking system (Local News Matters, September 25, 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 27, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.