Apache Junction officer resigns after using license plate reader to track down his wife

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. - An Apache Junction police officer resigned after an internal investigation found he used automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology to track down his wife for personal reasons, according to the police department.

Big picture view:

The department identified the officer as Joshua McDaniel, and said he would have been fired had he not resigned.

Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley said the department learned McDaniel had used the technology in two different ways while trying to locate his wife.

"It’s a shame that this happened, but my job as the police chief is to build trust in this department and to build trust with our community," Pooley said.

The backstory:

Police said McDaniel asked dispatchers to run his wife’s license plate, claiming it was for a welfare check. Dispatchers became concerned and alerted their supervisor.

The department also said McDaniel used the automated license plate reader system, known as ALPR, to locate his wife in Casa Grande. That prompted the other agency to raise concerns.

"He had mentioned to the Casa Grande Police Department that he had used our license plate reader technology and had access to it and saw that her vehicle was in Casa Grande," Pooley said.

Pooley said McDaniel had been with the department for just over a year and a half and was dealing with personal issues. Pooley did not disclose what those issues were, but said the department tried to connect McDaniel with help and support services.

Why you should care:

The incident comes as scrutiny of ALPR technology continues to grow across Arizona.

On Aug. 7, we reported that Chandler Police has launched an internal investigation into the potential misuse of their Flock license plate readers.

"I can just say that we have identified a potential misuse of the system by somebody in our organization," Chandler Police Chief Bryan Chapman said.

At the same time, the city announced they will discontinue their use of the Flock cameras.

What Pooley Is Saying:

"We want guardrails," Pooley said. "We want our officers to know that if you use this type of technology in a way that it's not meant for, you are going to be held responsible."

Pooley said the department audits ALPR use weekly to make sure officers follow policy.

Dig deeper:

"It takes a picture of your vehicle, documents the license plate, the make, model, color, whether you have aftermarket rims or a bumper sticker," Dave Maass with the Electronic Frontier Foundation said. "This all goes into a massive database that law enforcement can then search. They can put in your license plate, and they can see all the places your car traveled over the last 30 days."

Maass says he’s been tracking license plate reader technology for 14 years.

He says as these cameras become more common, people are starting to pay closer attention.

"They’re driving around, they see them on a pole attached at the end of their block," Maass said. "And they’re like, 'What is that?'"

Last week, Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple said his department would not renew its Flock Safety contract, citing Fourth Amendment privacy concerns.

"Once one agency has a problem, that prompts other agencies to start looking at their own data and, lo and behold, it is a massive epidemic of police abuse," Maass said.

Local perspective:

The Apache Junction Police Department has about 35 ALPR cameras. Despite the incident, Pooley said he remains a strong supporter of the technology.

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