Documented Incident
Whiteside County (IL) sheriff suspends Flock access, probes possible misuse after Post inquiry
Event: September 23, 2026 · First reported: September 23, 2026 · 8 sources
The Whiteside County Sheriff's Office in Illinois placed a deputy on administrative leave and opened an internal investigation into the possible misuse of the Flock automated license plate reader system, Sheriff John Booker announced. Booker said he began the inquiry after a Washington Post reporter contacted him with information about how the system had been used. The office does not own or operate its own Flock cameras but has access to data maintained by other agencies; Booker suspended that access for all sheriff's office personnel while the investigation proceeds.
The case illustrates how ALPR data shared across agency lines can extend beyond the department that owns the cameras, and how external reporting — rather than internal auditing — can be what surfaces questions about individual searches.
Key facts
- Sheriff John Booker said the internal investigation began after a Washington Post reporter raised information about Flock system use.
- One deputy was placed on administrative leave; Booker said this is not a finding of wrongdoing, and the deputy's name has not been released.
- The sheriff's office does not own or operate Flock cameras but accesses data held by other law enforcement agencies.
- Booker suspended sheriff's office use of the Flock system as a precaution during the investigation.
- The article notes a related development: the City of Sterling moving to deactivate all of its Flock cameras.
Timeline
- September 23, 2026Whiteside Co. sheriff’s office suspends use of Flock camera system, launches investigation into possible misuse
- September 23, 2026Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office investigating possible misuse of Flock camera data
- September 23, 2026Whiteside Sheriff investigates Flock system misuse
- September 25, 2026Whiteside County sheriff expects more Flock audits after possible misuse
- September 23, 2026Whiteside Co. deputy placed on leave over alleged Flock camera data misuse
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Whiteside Co. sheriff’s office suspends use of Flock camera system, launches investigation into possible misuse (WIFR, September 23, 2026)
- Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office investigating possible misuse of Flock camera data (OurQuadCities, September 23, 2026)
- Whiteside County deputy under investigation for possible misuse of Flock camera data: Sheriff (Shaw Local, September 23, 2026)
- Whiteside Co. sheriff’s office suspends use of Flock, investigates possible misuse (WIFR, September 23, 2026)
- Questions raised over possible misuse of Flock camera data by Whiteside County sheriff's deputy (WQAD, September 24, 2026)
- Whiteside Sheriff investigates Flock system misuse (Clinton Herald, September 23, 2026)
- Whiteside County sheriff expects more Flock audits after possible misuse (kwqc.com, September 25, 2026)
- Whiteside Co. deputy placed on leave over alleged Flock camera data misuse (KWQC, 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 2, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.