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Accountability • Crime & Public Safety

Former Fort Pierce Officer Charged After Hundreds of Allegedly Unauthorized Flock Searches

By 2 min read

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A former Fort Pierce police officer faces four felony computer-access charges after investigators accused him of repeatedly searching law-enforcement databases without a legitimate police purpose.

Fort Pierce Police Department official image

Josepher Crutchfield, 33, was arrested Sept. 8. Police allege he queried a vehicle connected to a former girlfriend 382 times between October 2025 and July 2026, including numerous searches made while he was off duty.

The allegations are unproven, and Crutchfield is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.

Access revoked before resignation

Fort Pierce police revoked Crutchfield’s database access after the department received information questioning his Flock activity. A criminal investigation followed, and Crutchfield resigned Aug. 18 before the inquiry was completed.

Police said the review involved Flock’s automated license-plate reader database and other restricted law-enforcement systems. Investigators allege that multiple searches used reason categories that did not correspond to a valid investigation.

Department tightens its rules

Following the case, Fort Pierce police limited Flock access to employees at the rank of lieutenant or above. Searches now require advance approval from a deputy chief and must be connected to a case number involving a forcible felony or a missing or endangered person.

The department also shortened its data-retention period from 30 days to seven days and began a broader audit of its Flock activity.

The criminal case remains pending. CFL Report will update this story when court records show a disposition or the department releases its audit findings.

Agency information: Fort Pierce Police Department.