Former officer in court for Flock camera misuse

We're also following a developing situation from Sarasota County where an officer went from wearing a police uniform to being handcuffed and then placed behind bars. Earlier today, former police officer Corey Waiters faced a judge for misusing flock cameras and the agency's David system. Let's bring in FOX 13's Kimberly Cruz on live outside Sarasota's County Courthouse. Hi there, Kim. I know Officer Waiters was given a bomb this afternoon. What else did you learn? Yeah, Mark, he sure was. A judge gave him a bond of $5500 and we all know that flock cameras read license plates and they can be used to help track down criminals and even find missing persons. But they can also be misused. And this former Sarasota police officer is accused of searching one license plate more than 300 times. And Corey Waiters was at his first appearance this morning and his attorney talked about his deep ties to the area. Now he also comes from a family of law enforcement officers. But tonight Waiters is accused of two felonies and a misdemeanor for misusing flock cameras. The investigation began earlier this month when a USA Today reporter discovered Officer Waiters had searched the same license tag 355 times. That tag was not part of any active police investigation and a local defense attorney not related to the case says this is one reason the use of flock cameras needs to be evaluated. There's no doubt that the flock cameras could be a powerful tool for law enforcement to solve crimes. Right. But I think this example is a prime example of where flock can go wrong, not just with the individual, but as we continue as a society to make decisions to give away our right to privacy in order to receive a little bit greater protection from the government. This is what we allow with a flock camera. They can set up, determine everywhere any individual goes is where you go to church A. A. Meetings who you're hanging out with, who you're socializing with, what you do for hobbies, where you go for work. Every single thing about a person everywhere they travel can be followed and determined. Now, police have not said who Waiters was keeping tabs on, but clearly it was someone he was keeping tabs on. They said on one day alone, he searched the tag 121 times, and this comes after a Haines City police officer was charged last week with misusing flock cameras to track his estranged ex wife. A police affidavit said Officer Christopher God Goodson searched his ex's plate 717 times. Now, Sarasota police have not addressed if there will be additional safeguards put into place because of this mark. Kim, let me ask you about these cameras. I know there's been so much controversy around them. There are people who want them to disappear altogether, but there is some good that can be done with these cameras. What more have we learned about what they're actually being used for? Well, that is true. A lot of the law enforcement agencies talk about that and think about just when you're on the interstate and you see those flashing billboards for silver alerts or missing Children. These flock cameras can be used to help track down somebody before tragedy strikes. And think about earlier this year, flock cameras were used to help not only identify but also track a suspect accused of killing two USF students. Uh, and last week, Plant City police said that they helped, uh, acute, make, make sure that a man was cleared of wrongdoing in what would have been the death of his wife and Children. Just a handful of cases there for sure. We hear all the time about these stolen cars and the license plates that are found because of that. So, all right, well, more to come with this for sure. Kim quiz on live in Sarasota. Thanks much.