Officer suspended as investigation probes alleged misuse of Flock camera searches
An officer in New Bedford, Massachusetts, has been placed on administrative leave while an internal affairs investigation examines allegations she used the Flock camera system to track an ex-girlfriend, court papers and police statements show. The case, which has led a judge to extend a restraining order, raises wider questions about the governance and oversight of networked camera technology used by police.
According to an affidavit and reporting from Boston 25 News, Officer Emily Pacheco is accused of searching the Flock system for the complainant's licence plate and attending locations where the woman was present, sometimes while on duty and wearing uniform. The complainant said the officer would appear within minutes of her arriving at certain places, and said she felt unsafe as a result.
The complainant told a judge that during an interview with the New Bedford Police Department she was informed her licence plate had appeared repeatedly in Flock searches. Pacheco denies using the system for personal reasons. Her lawyer told the court that she had searched for the plate as part of a criminal inquiry involving someone close to the complainant.
The judge who considered an application to extend a restraining order concluded that the woman was a victim of abuse and extended the order. Pacheco remains on administrative leave while the police internal affairs unit investigates.
"Flock can be a valuable investigative tool, but we also recognise that technologies like this raise legitimate questions about privacy, access, information sharing, and oversight," Police Chief Jason Thody said in a statement. "We need to make sure that if we continue using this technology, we do so responsibly and in a way that serves the public."
What is Flock and why it matters
Flock camera systems are networked devices capable of detecting licence plates, identifying vehicle make and model, and providing near real-time alerts to law-enforcement users. Such systems are increasingly used by police forces for crime prevention and investigation, but they also prompt debate about individual privacy and the controls placed on access to the data.
- Allegation: officer used Flock searches to follow an ex-partner.
- Response: officer on administrative leave; internal affairs investigation ongoing.
- Judicial action: restraining order extended after the complainant described feeling unsafe.
Local and wider implications
While the incident relates to New Bedford in the United States, the case illustrates issues that resonate in many police forces, including here: how access to surveillance tools is authorised, how searches are logged and audited, and what safeguards exist to prevent misuse by officers for personal reasons.
New Bedford’s police union acknowledged the inquiry and urged the public to remember the matter remains alleged at this stage. A local resident and privacy advocate, Elijah Desousa, was also mentioned in reporting as raising concerns about privacy — emphasising how community members are watching how such allegations are handled.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subject | Officer Emily Pacheco |
| Allegation | Used Flock camera system to track an ex-girlfriend |
| Current status | Administrative leave; internal affairs investigation |
| Judicial step | Restraining order extended |
Police chiefs and oversight bodies here and elsewhere have advised caution with new surveillance technologies. Chief Thody’s statement acknowledged potential benefits for safety but stressed the need for "caution and due diligence" in deployment. The investigation in New Bedford will test those assurances: it must establish whether policy or legal boundaries were breached, and whether record-keeping and access controls for Flock searches were properly applied.
For local residents and civic bodies, the case serves as a reminder to scrutinise the governance arrangements around automated number-plate recognition systems and other digital tools adopted by policing bodies. Questions likely to follow include how frequently searches are audited, what training and discipline protocols are in place, and how victims of alleged misuse can find redress.
The internal affairs investigation is ongoing and no finding has been reported at this stage. The union has said it is treating the allegation seriously while also noting the presumption that the matter is not yet proven. The outcome will determine whether policy changes or further oversight measures are needed to maintain public confidence in the use of such technology.
