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Accountability • Crime & Public Safety

Indian River County Sheriff’s Sergeant Put on Paid Leave in Flock Misuse Probe

By 2 min read

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — An Indian River County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been placed on paid administrative leave while the agency investigates possible misuse of its Flock Safety license-plate reader system.

Indian River County Sheriff’s Office official logo

The sheriff’s office identified the employee as Sgt. John Finnegan. Officials have not released details describing which searches prompted the inquiry or whether any person was improperly tracked.

The agency said it had already begun a broader audit of its Flock system before the possible issue involving Finnegan came to its attention. That audit remains underway.

Investigation remains pending

Administrative leave is a precautionary employment action and does not establish misconduct. No arrest, criminal charge or final disciplinary decision involving Finnegan had been announced as of publication.

Automated license-plate readers photograph passing vehicles and create searchable records containing plate numbers, vehicle characteristics, locations and times. Law-enforcement agencies say the systems help identify stolen vehicles, locate missing people and generate leads in serious cases.

Privacy concerns have centered on the ability to reconstruct a vehicle’s movements and on whether users are consistently required to document a legitimate investigative purpose. Recent Florida cases have pushed agencies to audit search histories and tighten supervisor review.

CFL Report will update this article when the sheriff’s office releases the results of its audit or the investigation involving Finnegan.

Agency information: Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.