Georgia Officer Used Flock Cameras 85 Times to Track Ex, Colleague

Extensive Surveillance Campaign Exposed

An Alpharetta, Georgia police officer conducted an 85-search surveillance operation using Flock Safety's automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system to track a former romantic partner and a fellow officer, according to internal investigation documents obtained by WIRED.

Dustin Bozzo, who worked as a patrolman until resigning in August, searched for his ex-girlfriend's license plate 56 times between March and May. When he noticed her vehicle frequently appeared near another officer's car, he began tracking that officer as well—conducting 29 additional searches during the same period.

The case adds concrete detail to a growing pattern of ALPR misuse. At least 45 documented incidents nationwide involve police officers exploiting Flock systems to monitor current or former romantic partners, though specifics are typically scarce.

The Investigation

According to the internal report written by Sergeant Jabbar Braithwaite, Bozzo's relationship with the other officer—now a civilian employee—violated Alpharetta's workplace dating ban. Multiple department members reported the pair "frequently spent personal time together while on duty" and were "not engaged in their assigned responsibilities."

The department separated the officers and issued written directives about acceptable workplace interactions, but surveillance continued. One sergeant reported seeing them meet in a "dark, secluded park" around 2:30 am while Bozzo was on duty.

When Flock's system prompted Bozzo to specify reasons for his searches, he routinely selected "Wanted Person" or "Traffic Infraction." He told investigators these were "just a quick keystroke." Bozzo claimed he was checking that his ex arrived home safely, as she often drove late at night. After learning she borrowed her uncle's vehicle following an accident, he searched that plate 18 times between April 5 and April 14.

Bozzo denied acting with malice or jealousy, though he acknowledged his actions were wrong. Braithwaite found no evidence contradicting this claim but concluded the Flock use violated department policy "regardless of his stated motivation."

Why it matters

This case illustrates how law enforcement access to powerful surveillance tools creates opportunities for abuse that can escalate quickly—even without malicious intent. ALPRs provide real-time location tracking capabilities that far exceed what civilians can access through social media. With thousands of police departments deploying Flock cameras nationwide, the technology's potential for misuse extends beyond romantic stalking to any situation where officers might exploit their privileged access. The incident underscores the need for robust audit systems and consequences that match the invasiveness of the tools officers control.

Consequences and Ongoing Investigation

Lieutenant Jason Hiott confirmed Bozzo was placed on paid leave July 20 and resigned August 5. An ongoing criminal investigation is underway in the department's Criminal Investigations Division. Police Chief Trent Lindgren said the investigation should conclude soon, emphasizing the department took "immediate action" upon identifying the misuse.

Bozzo did not respond to multiple requests for comment and changed his Facebook profile after being contacted. Flock Safety also did not respond to requests for comment.

These details were first reported by WIRED through public records requests.