Massachusetts officer quits before firing hearing over alleged Flock misuse

A police officer in the small Massachusetts town of Stow has resigned just hours before a scheduled termination hearing, after an internal investigation found he repeatedly misused surveillance tools to track a former partner. Officer Jason Rogers allegedly used Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader system and state police databases to obtain information about the woman with no legitimate law enforcement purpose, according to town officials and police statements. In response, Stow cancelled its contract with Flock Safety and removed the town’s last Flock camera in early August, according to NBC Boston's report and official statements from the Stow Police Department. Here's what actually happened:Allegations surface after victim files complaintStow police said they first learned of the allegations on June 18, when the victim filed a formal complaint with the department. Officials did not initially disclose the exact nature of Rogers’ relationship with the victim, but local reporting and court documents indicate she was a former romantic partner.Within hours of receiving the complaint, the department placed Rogers on paid administrative leave and revoked his access to all internal systems. The swift action reflected the seriousness of the allegations: misuse of law enforcement databases is not only a policy violation, but a potential crime.What the internal investigation foundOver the next four weeks, the Stow Police Department conducted an internal affairs investigation into Rogers’ use of department resources. Investigators concluded that he had: Illegally accessed Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) through the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) system on at least five separate occasions; and used the Flock Safety automated license plate reader system and CJIS to run vehicle information on multiple dates, without any legitimate law enforcement reason.The department said its findings sustained multiple charges against Rogers, including conduct unbecoming an officer, improper use of an official position, failure to comply with written orders, use of false and unsubstantiated search reasons, and violations of department policies governing law enforcement databases.From administrative leave to criminal chargesInitially, the Stow Select Board scheduled an employment status hearing for Rogers on July 30 to determine his future with the department. That hearing was postponed, and the town placed Rogers on unpaid administrative leave the following day. A new hearing was set for August 26.After receiving the internal affairs report, Stow police opened a separate criminal investigation. As a result, they filed a criminal complaint seeking charges against Rogers for alleged illegal use of the CORI system. The case has been forwarded to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.In addition, the internal affairs report was sent to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. The POST Commission has the authority to decertify officers, which would bar Rogers from working as a police officer anywhere in the state.Resignation before hearingHours before the August 26 termination hearing, Rogers resigned from the Stow Police Department, according to town officials. His resignation ends the employment proceedings but does not affect the criminal case or the POST Commission’s review of his certification.Town ends relationship with Flock SafetyIn a significant policy move, Stow police said they have terminated their relationship with Flock Safety as a direct result of Rogers’ actions. In early August, the department removed the last Flock automated license plate reader camera it operated in town.Flock Safety’s system uses high-resolution cameras and artificial intelligence to read license plates and cross-reference them with databases, helping police track stolen vehicles, locate suspects and find missing persons. But the technology also creates a detailed record of where vehicles travel, raising concerns when it is misused for personal reasons.Stow Police Chief Michael Sallese said the department will present an updated policy for automated license plate readers to the Select Board at a later date, aiming to strengthen oversight and prevent similar abuses in the future.“A serious violation of that trust, and it is a crime”In a public statement, Chief Sallese emphasised the gravity of the situation. “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with access to sensitive information solely so they can perform their official duties and protect the public...Using that access for a personal purpose is a serious violation of that trust, and it is a crime,” he said.Sallese added that the department acted quickly to remove Rogers from duty and protect its systems once the complaint was received. “We conducted a thorough investigation and are pursuing both employment and criminal accountability,” he said.Town Administrator Denise Dembkoski echoed that message, stressing that Rogers’ alleged conduct does not reflect the values of the department as a whole, according to NBC Boston. “The actions of one individual do not represent the values or conduct we expect from the good and dedicated members of the Stow Police Department,” she said, as per the report.Dembkoski praised the department’s leadership for responding “immediately” and following the evidence to produce a comprehensive internal affairs report. “We will continue working to ensure that the public has confidence in how sensitive law enforcement information is accessed and protected,” she added.Part of a broader pattern in MassachusettsThe Stow case emerged just days after a similar scandal in New Bedford, where police paused their use of Flock Safety cameras after an officer was accused of using the system to track a former girlfriend’s vehicle. That case, first reported by the New Bedford Light, has prompted calls for stricter oversight of automated license plate readers across the state.More...

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