Indianapolis police officer goes to court, accused of abusing Flock cameras INDIANAPOLIS — Court proceedings are in motion for the five IMPD officers charged in the department’s Flock camera scandal.  The range of allegations include unauthorized searches of vehicles belonging to intimate partners, exes, and strangers using Flock Safety’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology.  Officer Michael Rogers is due in court on Monday, Sept. 28, while Officers Matthew Binford, Abigail Cramer, and Cassandra Crawley are set for court appearances on Tuesday.  All are separately charged with multiple counts of fraud and official misconduct. Cramer has resigned from IMPD. The others have been suspended and recommended for termination. Officer Jonathan Schultz had his first court appearance on Friday, Sept. 25. He’s the only officer facing additional charges for stalking because authorities claim he not only tracked people’s vehicles but also acted on the Flock surveillance data to follow people and instigate unwanted, uncomfortable interactions.  One victim Schultz is accused of stalking told investigators she started noticing him showing up at her gym, and in one instance Schultz followed her to the parking lot.  “In the parking lot she got in her vehicle and noticed he was standing next to her vehicle staring at her,” prosecuting documents state. “She pulled off and waited for him to leave.” Schultz had searched Flock for her vehicle’s license plate twice that morning before she arrived at the gym. Another woman said Schultz handed her a note outside of her gym, reading, “There’s always some type of crazy in our lives. We shouldn’t let it get in-between what we want in life. I would love to get to know you,” then listed his name and phone number.  That woman was the subject of 178 Flock searches over a three-month span.  Schultz walked into court with handcuffs wrapped around his wrists and ankles, wearing orange, jail-issued clothing.  Prosecutors asked Magistrate Steven Rubick to set an enhanced bond in excess of what’s normal for his charges, saying accusations of stalking should raise concerns.  Defense attorney John Keiffner argued the actions detailed in prosecuting documents aren’t the sort of violent or sexual behavior typically associated with stalking. Schultz was “trying to talk to women”, Keiffner said, and his methods could be described as “pathetic”.  “Or creepy”, Judge Rubick quickly responded.  Ultimately, Rubick set a $10,000 bond, twice the amount Schultz’ charges would typically garner. Schultz is also subject to GPS monitoring and signed a protective order for the 11 victims and two witnesses in his case.  Rubick entered a routine not guilty plea on behalf of Schultz. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28.  SEE ALSO: Indiana sees surge of cities, counties ending Flock camera contracts After the hearing, Indiana’s I-Team asked Keiffner whether Schultz had anything to say to the victims or about the allegations. “In court,” Keiffner replied. “This case will be handled in court.” IMPD Chief Tanya Terry said it’s too soon to tell if there were other officers abusing their access to the Flock Safety system after Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears described these five cases as “just the beginning”. “I’m not sure what prosecutor Mears was thinking when he said that,” Terry said.  IMPD is continuing to audit its Flock data and has implemented new policies and procedures to limit the chance for abuse. Flock Safety is now requiring all of its customers to use its proactive auditing tools.  But a national privacy advocacy group, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP), is doubtful these changes are meaningful safeguards.  “The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s new guardrails are not enough to fix a system this invasive and ripe for abuse,” STOP Communications Director Will Owen told Indiana’s I-Team in a statement. “Furthermore, Flock’s own newly announced guardrails are nothing more than a crisis PR stunt, still granting officers plenty of power to misreport how they are using the database. Cities and towns across the country have fully canceled their contracts with Flock, and Indianapolis should follow suit.” ...read more read less