BAYTOWN, Texas – The Baytown Police Department says a former officer has resigned while investigators continue looking into allegations involving the department’s use of the Flock license plate reader (LPR) system.
In an update released by Chief John Stringer, the department said it opened two separate investigations after the allegations surfaced: an internal affairs investigation and a separate criminal investigation. Stringer said both cases are still ongoing, and the officer at the center of the investigation left the department the day before the latest update was issued.
“This does not conclude either one of the investigations,” Stringer said, adding that the department will pursue accountability “to the fullest extent of the law” depending on what the criminal investigation finds.
Stringer said the results of the internal affairs investigation will be reported to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and that the Harris County District Attorney’s Office has been informed as the criminal investigation continues.
The chief said the department is limited in what it can release while the investigations remain active, but pledged to provide additional information when it is appropriate.
Flock cameras, which are designed to capture license plate data to help investigators track vehicles tied to crimes, have expanded across the Houston area in recent years — and have also raised broader privacy and oversight questions, as KPRC 2 has previously reported. Baytown police have not detailed what specific conduct is being investigated in this case, citing the ongoing inquiries.
KPRC 2 News obtained a copy of Baytown PD’s Flock camera policy, which outlines strict guidelines for how the technology can be used:
- License plate reader data cannot be used to track people’s movements, habits or activities without a legitimate law enforcement purpose.
- Officers are barred from using the technology to target people based on race, religion, gender or other protected characteristics.
- The data cannot be used for personal gain, harassment or revenue generation.
The cases come as Flock cameras have sparked a broader debate about privacy and law enforcement technology. Earlier this month, Harris County Commissioners approved an amendment expanding countywide access to its Flock contract, a decision that drew concern from some residents about privacy.
Frustration over the surveillance system has also turned physical in some areas, a Flock camera pole was recently cut down in the Houston Medical District.
Chief Stringer says investigators remain committed to following the case wherever it leads, regardless of the officer’s employment status.