Ex-Indiana deputy charged with felony for allegedly using Flock cameras to stalk girlfriend
A former Indiana sheriff's deputy has been charged after allegedly abusing access to Flock camera surveillance technology to stalk his girlfriend, running more than 2,000 unauthorised licence plate searches on her vehicle over more than a year. The case highlights growing concerns about the potential for misuse of powerful licence plate recognition systems by the very officers entrusted to use them responsibly, adding fuel to wider debate over privacy safeguards around such surveillance tools.
Skylar Thompson, 31, of Jackson County, faces a Level 6 felony charge of official misconduct alongside a misdemeanour fraud count, after allegedly disguising his searches between 31 December 2025 and 2 August as "city planning/traffic analysis" despite having no such duties. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department uncovered the pattern during an internal audit and referred the matter to Indiana State Police. Thompson resigned once confronted, admitted the conduct to his then-girlfriend, and later turned himself in. Flock Safety said it backs stronger privacy and accountability rules while defending its technology as a valuable crime-fighting tool.
In short
- Ex-deputy allegedly ran 2,000+ illicit plate searches on his girlfriend
- Disguised searches as "traffic analysis"; caught in internal audit
- Faces felony misconduct and fraud charges; resigned and surrendered
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that licence plate recognition can help police investigate crimes and locate vehicles, and that an individual officer’s alleged abuse should be addressed through audits, access controls and prosecution rather than abandoning the technology. They may see the department’s audit and referral as evidence that oversight can detect misuse while preserving a useful public-safety tool.
The case against
Critics argue that systems capable of tracking vehicles at scale create serious privacy risks, especially when officers can use them to monitor people for personal reasons. This case may show that audits and rules cannot fully prevent abuse, so stronger limits on data collection, retention and access—or restricting the technology’s use—are needed to protect the public.
Explained simply
Licence plate recognition cameras record the plates of passing vehicles so they can be searched later. Flock Safety is a company that supplies these cameras to police departments and other organisations, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department in Indiana.
Police staff may use the systems for authorised work, such as investigating crime, but searches can also reveal where a vehicle has travelled. Skylar Thompson was a deputy with the department; the case concerns allegations that he used his access to look up his girlfriend’s vehicle for personal reasons.
The case raises questions about how agencies monitor searches and protect the information these systems collect. Flock Safety says the technology can help solve crimes, while also supporting stronger privacy and accountability rules.