PORTER COUNTY — A Porter County Sheriff’s Office officer has been demoted and suspended without pay after an internal investigation determined the officer improperly searched a citizen’s license plate using the department’s Flock license plate reader system.
Porter County Sheriff Jeff Balon announced the disciplinary action Thursday, saying he decided to publicly address the internal affairs investigation because of the national attention surrounding law enforcement’s use of license plate reader technology.
According to Balon, the investigation began after a citizen discovered their license plate had been searched through the Porter County Sheriff’s Office’s Flock LPR system for a reason that was not consistent with department policy.
Balon said he immediately ordered an internal affairs investigation.
“The outcome of the investigation confirmed that an Officer did enter the citizen’s license plate into the Flock LPR system,” Balon said. “The reason for the entry violated our policy.”
The sheriff’s office did not identify the officer or disclose the specific reason the license plate was searched.
As a result of the investigation, the officer received a demotion in rank, an unpaid suspension, an indefinite suspension from using the Flock system and mandatory remedial ethics training.
Balon said the violation occurred under a previous version of the department’s Flock policy and that the officer’s actions violated the rules that were in place at the time.
Since the incident, the sheriff said PCSO has strengthened its policies and implemented additional safeguards governing license plate reader searches.
Under the updated policy, every Flock search conducted by a member of the Porter County Sheriff’s Office must include a case number and a reason for the search.
The department is also utilizing Flock’s audit system, which uses artificial intelligence to identify searches that may appear suspicious or otherwise raise concerns. Those searches can then be flagged for review by the sheriff’s office.
Balon said the additional measures are intended to provide another layer of oversight and accountability.
License plate reader systems are used by law enforcement agencies to identify and locate vehicles associated with criminal investigations, wanted persons and other public safety matters. Balon emphasized that while the technology can be a valuable law enforcement tool, its use must remain within department policy.
“As I have mentioned in the past, LPRs are a valuable tool in fighting crime and helping our citizens in need,” Balon said. “However, as with any law enforcement tool, if they are used inappropriately, we will hold our Officers accountable for their misuse.”
No additional information regarding the identity of the officer, the citizen involved or the circumstances surrounding the improper search was released.
