A senior investigator with the Albany Sheriff's Office was arrested Wednesday and charged with falsifying business records and official misconduct for allegedly using Flock cameras to track individuals without a valid law enforcement purpose. Laurie Moore, 47, a 13-year veteran of the office, is accused of tracking her ex-girlfriend's license plate nearly 3,000 times and those of four other acquaintances over more than a year, according to Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple.
Sheriff Apple described the arrest as a "gut punch" and a breach of public trust. He stated that Moore's alleged searches were not part of any official police investigation and that the reasons she provided for accessing the Flock camera data were inaccurate. The department's protocol requires investigators to document the specific reason and case number for each license plate search.
An internal investigation was launched after the Sheriff's Office received a tip from an outside source on Friday regarding Moore's alleged misuse of the technology. Moore has been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of the investigation. Another command staff member has been placed on administrative leave, though no specific details were provided.
In response to the incident, Sheriff Apple announced changes to the Flock camera usage protocol. Deputies will no longer have direct access to the technology, and more frequent audits will be conducted to prevent future misuse.
Moore's arrest occurs amid a broader debate about the use of license plate reading technology by law enforcement agencies. Critics have raised concerns about potential privacy violations and the illicit use of such tools. However, Sheriff Apple and Albany District Attorney Lee Kindlon defended the use of Flock cameras, asserting their critical role in solving major crimes within the city. They emphasized that the technology is a necessary tool for combating criminal activity.
Moore was ordered to appear in court on September 24. Attorney information for Moore was not immediately available.