{"slug": "florida-police-officer-accused-of-using-ai-flock-cameras-to-track-ex-wife-717", "title": "Florida police officer accused of using AI Flock cameras to track ex-wife 717 times", "summary": "A Haines City, Florida police officer, Christopher Goodson, 31, was arrested on August 11 after allegedly using AI-powered Flock cameras to track his estranged wife's vehicle 717 times between September 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, according to a probable cause affidavit. Goodson, who faces charges of official misconduct and an offense against users of computers and electronic devices, allegedly conducted the searches both on and off duty using a police-issued laptop and cellphone, and selected false reasons such as 'Criminal Motor Vehicle Offense' and 'Drugs/Narcotics' to make them appear legitimate. Police Chief Isaac Jackson said the department does not tolerate misuse of investigative databases and has ordered additional quarterly reviews of staff access, while the department continues using Flock cameras.", "body_md": "A Florida police officer has been arrested after allegedly using AI-powered Flock cameras to track his estranged wife’s vehicle 717 times.\n\nChristopher Goodson, 31, of the Haines City Police Department, is charged with official misconduct and an offense against users of computers and electronic devices, according to a probable cause affidavit[ obtained by People](https://people.com/fla-cop-allegedly-tracked-estranged-wife-using-flock-cameras-on-over-700-occasions-12059224).\n\nPolice became aware of the alleged misuse on August 10 after Goodson’s estranged wife told him The Washington Post had contacted her about a story involving his searches.\n\nGoodson then informed a supervisor that he had made “several inquiries” into her vehicle. He reportedly claimed he wanted to monitor where his children were while they were with her.\n\n## Officer allegedly used false reasons for Flock searches\n\nInvestigators say Goodson entered his estranged wife’s license plate into the Flock database 717 times between September 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026.\n\nThe searches were allegedly conducted both on and off duty using a police-issued laptop and cellphone. Goodson is accused of searching for the vehicle 280 times in September 2025 alone.\n\nAccording to the affidavit, the woman was not involved in a criminal investigation and her vehicle had not been connected to any crime.\n\nGoodson reportedly selected reasons including “Criminal Motor Vehicle Offense,” “Wanted Person (Arrest Warrant/Fugitive)” and “Drugs/Narcotics” to make the searches appear related to legitimate police work.\n\nThe officer was arrested on August 11 and [placed on paid administrative leave](https://www.kbtx.com/2026/08/18/officer-accused-misusing-flock-cameras-track-estranged-ex-wife-more-than-700-times-police-say/). Police said he has indicated that he intends to resign following the investigation.\n\n## Related\n\n“The Haines City Police Department does not tolerate the misuse, unauthorized access, or personal use of any investigative databases or law-enforcement information systems,” Police Chief Isaac Jackson said.\n\nJackson has ordered additional quarterly reviews of staff access, though the department says it will continue using Flock cameras.\n\nThe arrest comes amid [growing controversy surrounding Flock’s surveillance network](https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/flock-camera-controversy-explained-as-viral-halloween-de-flock-campaign-gains-momentum-3399710/). A campaign to “de-Flock America” by destroying cameras on Halloween night has been gaining momentum online.\n\nThe technology has also faced criticism after [AI cameras incorrectly identified an innocent man’s car as stolen](https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/police-swarm-innocent-man-after-ai-cameras-incorrectly-mark-his-car-as-stolen-3385265/), leading to him being swarmed by police.\n\nA [new website has since launched](https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/new-website-lets-drivers-check-whether-their-license-plate-has-been-searched-on-flock-database-3398804/) that allows drivers to check whether their license plates have appeared in public Flock search records.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/florida-police-officer-accused-of-using-ai-flock-cameras-to-track-ex-wife-717", "canonical_source": "https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/florida-police-officer-accused-of-using-ai-flock-cameras-to-track-ex-wife-717-times-3400226/", "published_at": "2026-08-19 19:54:13+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-19 20:43:22.833600+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-policy", "ai-ethics"], "entities": ["Christopher Goodson", "Haines City Police Department", "Flock cameras", "Isaac Jackson", "The Washington Post", "People"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/florida-police-officer-accused-of-using-ai-flock-cameras-to-track-ex-wife-717", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/florida-police-officer-accused-of-using-ai-flock-cameras-to-track-ex-wife-717.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/florida-police-officer-accused-of-using-ai-flock-cameras-to-track-ex-wife-717.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/florida-police-officer-accused-of-using-ai-flock-cameras-to-track-ex-wife-717.jsonld"}}