Florida police officer arrested after using Flock surveillance cameras 717 times to track estranged wife | World News

A Florida police officer has been arrested after allegedly using his department’s Flock licence-plate surveillance system 717 times to track a vehicle belonging to his estranged wife over nearly two years. Christopher Goodson, a 31-year-old officer with the Haines City Police Department, allegedly searched the vehicle’s licence plate between September 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, both while on and off duty, according to an arrest affidavit. Investigators said he used department-issued devices and entered various law-enforcement justifications for the searches, even though his estranged wife was not involved in a criminal investigation. Goodson was charged with official misconduct and an offence involving computer systems and was placed on paid administrative leave. He has also indicated that he plans to resign.

Florida police officer allegedly tracked estranged wife 717 times

Investigators reviewing Goodson’s activity on the Flock system found 717 searches involving the licence plate associated with his estranged wife’s vehicle between September 2024 and June 2026. The searches were reportedly carried out using his police credentials and department-issued devices. According to the arrest affidavit, Goodson accessed the system both while working and while off duty. Investigators found particularly high numbers of searches during several months in 2025, including 280 searches in September alone. The repeated searches became the focus of a criminal investigation into whether the officer had improperly used a law-enforcement database for personal purposes.The investigation began after Goodson told a supervisor that he had conducted searches involving his estranged wife’s vehicle. According to the affidavit, his wife had told him that The Washington Post had contacted her about an investigation into the alleged tracking. Goodson then reportedly acknowledged that he had used the Flock system to determine the location of his children when they were with their mother. The department subsequently reviewed his Flock activity and found hundreds of searches connected to the vehicle.

Investigators say he entered false reasons

According to the arrest affidavit, Goodson allegedly selected different law-enforcement justifications when conducting the searches. These included reasons related to wanted persons, drugs and narcotics, criminal motor vehicle offences, assault and battery, fleeing and eluding, traffic infractions, larceny and theft and felony investigations. Investigators reportedly found no evidence that his estranged wife was the subject of a legitimate criminal investigation during the period examined. Her vehicle was also not identified as being connected to a crime that would have justified the searches.The investigation found that Goodson allegedly used department-issued equipment and his employee credentials to access the Flock system. The searches were made both while he was on duty and during periods when he was off duty, according to investigators. This distinction became important because the system is intended to support legitimate police investigations rather than personal matters. The department has said officers are expected to use investigative databases only for authorised law-enforcement purposes.

Goodson said he was trying to locate his children

Goodson reportedly told his supervisor that he used the Flock system to keep track of his children when they were staying with their mother. His explanation is included in the investigative record, but authorities allege that the searches were not legitimate law-enforcement queries. The investigation instead focused on whether he had used his official access to obtain information about his estranged wife’s vehicle for personal reasons.

Florida officer faces two charges

Goodson was arrested on August 11, 2026, and charged with one count of official misconduct and one count involving unauthorised use of computer systems, networks and electronic devices. Local reports citing the arrest affidavit describe both charges as third-degree felonies. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Goodson is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty. Reports also said it was unclear whether he had entered a plea or retained an attorney to comment publicly on the allegations.

Police officer placed on paid administrative leave

Following the investigation, the Haines City Police Department placed Goodson on paid administrative leave. He had joined the department in March 2022 and has indicated that he intends to resign. Police Chief Isaac Jackson described the incident as unfortunate and said the department does not tolerate the misuse or unauthorised use of investigative databases. The chief also stressed that police information systems are intended for legitimate official purposes and must be accessed according to department policies and applicable law.The Haines City Police Department has said it will introduce additional quarterly reviews of employees’ access to investigative databases. The reviews are intended to identify searches that may not have a legitimate law-enforcement purpose and strengthen accountability around sensitive information. Despite the controversy, the department has indicated that it will continue using Flock technology because officials consider automated licence-plate readers a useful investigative tool when they are used properly.

What are Flock surveillance cameras?

Flock’s system consists of automated licence-plate-reader cameras that photograph passing vehicles and use computer vision technology to identify licence plates and other vehicle characteristics. The resulting information can be stored in a searchable database that allows authorised law-enforcement users to look for previous sightings of a vehicle. Police departments can use the technology to investigate stolen vehicles, missing people and other cases. However, the ability to search historical vehicle sightings has also raised concerns about privacy and potential misuse.Goodson’s arrest comes amid wider scrutiny of automated licence-plate-reader networks in the US. A Washington Post investigation published in August 2026 identified at least 50 law-enforcement officers who had been accused or charged with misusing licence-plate-reader systems, including cases involving alleged surveillance of romantic partners and former partners. The investigation highlighted concerns about how officers can access large databases containing information about where vehicles have been detected.

Privacy concerns surrounding licence-plate readers

The controversy centres on the amount of information that automated licence-plate readers can make searchable. A single camera captures a vehicle at a particular location, but a large network can potentially create a detailed record of where that vehicle has been seen over time. Supporters argue that the technology can help police solve crimes more efficiently, while critics say strong safeguards are needed to prevent it from becoming a tool for monitoring people without a legitimate law-enforcement reason.Flock has faced calls to strengthen controls over how police officers use its systems. The Washington Post reported that the company introduced an audit-assistance feature designed to identify potentially suspicious activity, including repeated searches of the same vehicle and searches conducted outside an officer’s normal working hours. Such tools are intended to help agencies identify unusual patterns and investigate potential misuse of the system.