KEENE, N.H. — A former New Hampshire State Police trooper has pleaded guilty to making a false report to law enforcement after authorities concluded he placed GPS tracking devices on his then‑girlfriend’s vehicle and on his own car, the Attorney General’s Office said.
Guilty plea and penalties
James Lamoureux, 43, of Keene entered the plea in Keene District Court to a single count of false reports to law enforcement. Under a negotiated resolution announced by the Attorney General’s Office, Lamoureux will be sentenced to six months in jail, suspended for two years.
As part of the agreement, Lamoureux is required to resign from the New Hampshire State Police and surrender his New Hampshire Law Enforcement Certification. He also will be placed on the national registry of decertified officers and is prohibited from seeking future employment as a law enforcement officer, according to the office.
Investigators’ findings
The state’s investigation determined that Lamoureux had installed GPS tracking devices on both a vehicle regularly used by his then‑girlfriend and on his own vehicle, and that he downloaded a tracking application to his phone to monitor the devices. When confronted by his girlfriend, Lamoureux told Keene police he believed other people had placed the devices on the vehicles — a statement investigators say was false.
Authorities said he later asked an acquaintance to provide false information about the tracking devices to police.
- Defendant: James Lamoureux, 43, of Keene
- Charge: One count — false reports to law enforcement
- Agreed sentence: Six months in jail, suspended for two years
- Administrative consequences: Resignation, surrender of certification, placement on national decertification registry, ban on future law enforcement employment
What the penalties mean for local policing
The case underscores the disciplinary mechanisms available when a certified officer is found to have lied to investigators or misused law enforcement tools. Placement on the national registry of decertified officers typically bars a person from being hired as a sworn officer in other jurisdictions that screen that database.
Resignation combined with surrender of state certification removes the authority to work as a sworn officer in New Hampshire. The Attorney General’s Office handled the criminal prosecution; administrative decertification was imposed as part of the negotiated resolution, the office said.
| Action | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Criminal plea | Guilty to one count of false reports |
| Jail sentence | 6 months suspended for 2 years |
| Employment status | Resignation from NH State Police |
| Certification | Surrendered and placed on national decertified registry |
Privacy concerns and technology
The use of GPS trackers in domestic or relationship disputes has grown more visible in recent years, raising legal and privacy concerns. In this case, investigators established both the physical placement of devices and the defendant’s use of a phone app to monitor locations.
Criminal statutes and department policies address the unauthorized placement and use of tracking devices. The guilty plea and administrative sanctions illustrate how law enforcement agencies respond when an officer is implicated in that kind of conduct.
Next steps
Lamoureux’s sentencing will formalize the suspended jail term and the court record will reflect the plea. The Attorney General’s Office coordinated the criminal resolution and the state police processed the resignation and certification surrender, the office said.
Because the negotiated resolution included administrative and certification penalties, the outcome also functions as a record for other agencies that review the national decertification registry when hiring sworn officers.
Officials have not released additional public comments beyond the summary of charges and the agreed sanctions provided by the Attorney General’s Office.
