A Georgia police officer used a license plate reader system to surveil two fellow officers — including a former romantic partner — dozens of times over several months, according to internal investigation records obtained by WIRED through a public records request.
Dustin Bozzo, a patrolman with the Alpharetta Police Department in the Atlanta suburbs, allegedly searched for his ex-partner’s license plate 56 times between March and May 2026 using Flock Safety, an automated license plate reader (ALPR) system. When he noticed another officer’s vehicle frequently appearing near hers, he began searching for that vehicle too — 29 additional searches over the same period.
Bozzo was placed on paid leave on July 20 and resigned on August 5 following an internal investigation. A criminal investigation is now underway in the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, according to Lieutenant Jason Hiott. Police Chief Trent Lindgren told WIRED the investigation is expected to conclude soon, and that the department took “immediate action” once misuse was identified.
The internal report, written by Sergeant Jabbar Braithwaite, details that Bozzo and the female officer — now a civilian department employee — began a romantic relationship in late 2025, in violation of the city’s ban on workplace dating. Multiple colleagues reported that the pair frequently spent personal time together while on duty and neglected their assigned responsibilities. The department separated them and issued a written directive on acceptable workplace conduct, though the relationship reportedly continued. One sergeant observed the pair meeting in a “dark, secluded park” at around 2:30 am while Bozzo was on duty.
Bozzo told investigators he did not use Flock with intent to intimidate or cause harm. He did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment and changed his Facebook name and profile photo after being contacted.
The incident is one of at least 45 documented cases nationwide of police officers misusing Flock to look up or track current or former romantic partners, highlighting ongoing concerns about officer access to powerful location-tracking tools with limited oversight.
Source: WIRED