Shively Officer Accused of Running More Than 2,000 Flock Searches

A Shively police officer was arrested Tuesday night at department headquarters after investigators say he ran more than 2,000 searches through the Flock license plate camera system to track and harass a woman in southern Indiana. Officer Asad Zahir faces five counts of unlawful access to a computer and five counts of official misconduct.

According to WHAS11, investigators accuse Zahir of using the Flock system to continuously track the woman's movements, including searching two Kentucky vehicle registrations belonging to her. Investigators also allege that Zahir harassed the woman in southern Indiana, the station reports. WDRB reports on Zahir's arrest at Shively Police Department headquarters.

What the Charges Could Mean

What the Charges Could Mean The supplied Kentucky materials address official misconduct and unlawful access to a computer, but they do not establish the elements, classifications or penalties applicable to Zahir's charges. It also remains unclear which specific degree of misconduct charge Zahir faces.

The Shively Police Department is the agency involved in the case. The supplied materials do not provide staffing, population or area figures.

Part of a Documented National Pattern

Zahir's case lands amid a wave of scrutiny over how police officers use automated license plate readers. An August investigation by The Washington Post identified at least 50 law enforcement officers nationwide accused or charged with misusing the technology, with more than half of those cases involving officers allegedly stalking romantic partners or former spouses, as detailed by The 19th. Of the cases identified in that investigation, 46 involved equipment made by Flock Safety, the company whose cameras Zahir is accused of exploiting. The article also references the Institute for Justice in discussing documented license plate reader abuse, but the supplied materials do not establish a database or incident count.

Flock Safety has faced mounting scrutiny over police use of its technology. The article cites Poynter in its discussion of the company. The supplied reporting mentions a voluntary audit tool rolled out in April. Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley has discussed accountability, the reporting says.

Kentucky's Regulatory Response

Kentucky's regulatory response The article cites The Interior Journal in discussing Kentucky House Bill 58, but the supplied materials do not establish the bill's effective date, data-deletion requirements, sponsor or legislative motivation. They also do not establish whether revised Kentucky open-records rules allow police departments to keep Flock camera locations confidential.

Public pushback against the cameras has also spread to individual Kentucky cities. Independence was removing Flock cameras after residents spoke out, according to WVXU. The article also links to a Hoodline report about Hartford and references other Kentucky examples, but the supplied materials do not establish further details.