Georgia Officer Used Flock License Plate Cameras to Track Ex-Partner and Fellow Cop

A license plate recognition tool made by Flock Safety and widely used by US police departments to search for suspects has come under scrutiny again over personal misuse. Documents obtained by Wired through a public records request detail how Alpharetta, Georgia patrolman Dustin Bozzo used the system to track a former romantic partner, herself an Alpharetta police employee, and another officer.

According to an internal investigation report, Bozzo searched for his ex-partner's license plate 56 times between March and May, and searched for another officer's vehicle 29 times after noticing it was frequently near hers. The relationship between Bozzo and his ex had already violated the department's policy against workplace dating.

Bozzo maintained he had no intent to intimidate or harm anyone, claiming he wanted to confirm his ex-partner had gotten home safely since she often drove late at night. He later began searching for a vehicle belonging to her uncle, which she was temporarily using after a car accident, running 18 searches between April 5 and April 14. While reviewing results, he noticed another officer's car frequently appeared nearby and began tracking it too, though he denied jealousy was a factor.

Both his ex-partner and the other officer said their relationship with each other was purely platonic. His former partner said she did not know why Bozzo had been tracking their vehicles.

An Alpharetta police lieutenant confirmed Bozzo was placed on paid leave on July 20 and resigned on August 5 following the internal investigation. The department's Criminal Investigations Division has opened a criminal probe, which the police chief said should conclude soon. Department leadership said it holds itself to a high standard and acted immediately once the misuse was identified.

The case adds to a broader pattern: at least 45 documented incidents nationwide involve police officers misusing Flock to look up or track current or former romantic partners.