Local
Goodyear probe finds former officer violated three department policies
A Goodyear Police Department investigation concluded that a former officer misused the Flock license plate camera system and violated policies on authority, body cameras and honesty. The officer resigned Sept. 17, before the investigation was complete; the police chief said termination would have been upheld if he had stayed.
The Goodyear Police Department has concluded that a former officer committed three policy violations in connection with the department’s Flock automated license plate reader system, including abuse of authority and dishonesty.
The department said a routine audit in July flagged possible misuse of the camera database. The officer was placed on leave and barred from Goodyear police computer systems while the matter was investigated. He resigned Sept. 17, while the department’s administrative investigation was still underway.
The completed investigation found violations involving abuse of authority, the department’s body-worn camera policy and dishonesty, police said. Chief Brian Issitt said the officer would have been fired had he remained employed.
“Resignation does not erase misconduct, nor does it relieve us of our responsibility to investigate it,” Issitt said in a statement. He said the department continued its review because residents place significant trust in officers’ access to sensitive law enforcement information.
Goodyear asked Glendale police to assess whether the officer’s conduct could support criminal charges. Glendale investigators determined there was not enough evidence to support charges, according to Goodyear police. The administrative findings concern department policy and are separate from that criminal review.
The case comes amid wider scrutiny of automated license plate readers, which capture vehicle plate information and can help police investigate crimes but have also raised privacy concerns. Other Arizona agencies have faced allegations of officers misusing the systems. Tempe, earlier this month, permanently banned the city’s use of license plate reader cameras.