Laurie Moore, a senior investigator with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Wednesday after investigators discovered she allegedly used Flock cameras to track her ex-girlfriend nearly 3,000 times, ABC News reported. The 47-year-old veteran, who has served the office for 13 years, now faces two misdemeanor charges for second-degree falsifying business records and official misconduct.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple addressed the situation during a news conference Wednesday. He described the arrest as “a gut punch,” noting that Moore had been considered “an outstanding investigator” before this discovery.
The investigation into Moore started last Friday after the office received a tip from an outside source claiming she was using a Flock camera to track a former acquaintance. Apple stated, “The public places tremendous trust in law enforcement and in our ability to use these tools responsibly. What happened here is a breach of that trust, and for that I am truly sorry.”
According to the sheriff, Moore tracked her former girlfriend’s license plate along with four other acquaintances for over a year
None of these searches were connected to any legitimate police investigations. The department requires all investigators to provide a specific case number and a reason for every license plate search they perform using Flock cameras. Apple explained that Moore did input reasons for her searches, but those entries were not accurate.
He noted, “Everything in there needs to be accountable. It has to have a case number, a reason why. There were ‘reasons why’ [that] she was putting in there, but they were not true, they were not accurate reasons.”
Moore has been suspended indefinitely while the investigation continues. Additionally, another member of the command staff has been placed on administrative leave, though the sheriff did not share specific details regarding that individual. Moore is scheduled to appear in court on September 24.
This situation highlights a growing tension regarding the use of surveillance technology by law enforcement. There have been increasing calls for police departments to stop using Flock cameras and similar license plate reading tools, especially as more reports surface about officers using these systems for illicit purposes.
Despite these concerns, Sheriff Apple and Albany District Attorney Lee Kindlon still defended the use of the technology. They argue that the tools are essential for solving serious crimes in the city. Apple maintained his position on the necessity of the tech, stating, “It’s a necessary tool. We need this tool to combat evil.”
In response to this breach, the sheriff’s office has already updated its protocols. Deputies are now prohibited from accessing the technology, and the department is implementing more frequent audits to ensure that no one else abuses the system.
Published: Sep 13, 2026 02:44 pm