the Babe Ruth of “Flock Stalkers”

Our Take

Police Law News has a knack for digging up the numbers departments would rather you not see, and this one is a doozy: 717 queries from a single user, nicknamed the "Babe Ruth of Flock Stalkers." Whether that volume is explained by diligent casework, idle curiosity, or something far more troubling, the sheer scale is the story. Flock's own marketing leans on audit logs as the safeguard against misuse, but a log only matters if someone actually reviews it and acts when the numbers look this lopsided.

This is the recurring problem with license plate reader networks: they're sold as a tool for solving crimes, yet the access controls and oversight needed to prevent personal misuse are usually an afterthought, bolted on after a scandal rather than built in from day one. Three-figure, let alone four-figure, query counts tied to one badge number should trigger automatic review, not a viral video months later. Without real-time auditing and public accountability, 'trust us' is the entire policy.

Every one of these stories is a reminder that the cameras generating that data aren't hidden in some far-off city — they're probably on your route to work. Check our camera map to see what's nearby, and visit take action for ways to push your local government on access policies and audit transparency.