A Florida detective has been fired and arrested on charges of official misconduct for allegedly misusing a law enforcement license plate tracking system to monitor her new husband's ex-wife. Brandy Almany, 40, a former detective with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, is accused of improperly accessing the Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) system 47 times over three months to track the whereabouts and routines of Rena Rolfsen.
According to Almany's arrest warrant, she admitted to using the system to assist her husband, Jake Ross Thomas, in serving documents on Rolfsen. Thomas is involved in ongoing legal battles with his ex-wife, Rolfsen, primarily concerning finances and child custody for their two children, aged 11 and 16. Court filings in their divorce case number 576 separate entries.
Almany allegedly used existing case numbers to conceal her searches in the Flock database, which records vehicle movements. She also reportedly accessed the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database and the Florida Courts Comprehensive Case Information System to obtain Rolfsen's residential address, vehicle registration, and court records. Almany admitted that the searches were not related to any official Sumter County Sheriff's Office investigations and stated, "Because I'm stupid," when questioned about her actions.
Sheriff Patrick Breeden expressed extreme disappointment in Almany's conduct and has temporarily suspended the office's use of Flock devices pending further investigation. He ordered a complete internal audit of all databases managed by the office.
Almany, who married Thomas on February 2, 2025, has since updated her professional profile on LinkedIn to indicate she is "open to work" and seeking administrative or legal assistant roles. She previously served as a road patrol officer and a detective and trainer within the sheriff's office, where she was recognized for her organizational skills, discretion, and problem-solving abilities.
This incident highlights broader concerns about the potential for ALPRs to be used for warrantless surveillance. Civil liberties groups warn that innocent drivers can be tracked and their movements analyzed without warrants. Almany's arrest follows similar cases, including a former Milwaukee police officer sentenced for tracking his ex-girlfriend and two officers in South Carolina who were fired for alleged private snooping using Flock systems. Flock Safety, the company that produces the ALPR devices, states its technology is designed for public safety while enabling accountability and transparency.