Apache Junction officer resigns after using license plate reader to track down his wife
AZ officer quits over license plate reader misuse
An Apache Junction police officer has resigned, after an internal investigation found he had used automated license plate reader technology for personal reasons. FOX 10's Jacob Luthi reports.
APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. - An Apache Junction police officer resigned after an internal investigation found he used automated license plate reader 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.
Dig deeper:
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.
Chandler Police Department
"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 its not meant for, you are going to be held responsible."
Pooley said the department audits ALPR use weekly to make sure officers follow policy.
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.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from the Apache Junction Police Department and Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley.