CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Cheektowaga police have suspended three of their own after a months-long investigation into misuse of Flock cameras to track a fellow employee.
Sources tell the 7 News I-Team that police are close to filing disciplinary sanctions against the three employees. Those sanctions have not yet been filed.
The I-Team has learned the three involved are:
- Robert Dombrowski - a police officer
- Anthony Filipski, Junior - a dispatcher
- Lauren Seibr - a dispatcher
Dombrowski, the I-Team has learned, was a dispatcher at the time of the alleged misuse of these Flock cameras.
According to Cheektowaga police, all three staff members have been suspended as "punishment for multiple policy violations."
Cheektowaga Police sent the I-Team this statement:
"In response, the Cheektowaga Police Department is taking this matter seriously and recognizes the importance of public trust. We have taken steps to tighten policies and procedures to help prevent future incidents."
Cheektowaga has almost 30 Flock cameras throughout the town. They are automatic license plate readers that are used to record license plates at various locations.
WATCH: Cheektowaga police officer, dispatchers accused of misusing Flock cameras to track fellow employee
At a Cheektowaga Town Board meeting this past June, Police Chief Brian Coons outlined a proposal to add two more cameras. Coons cited an increase in the efficiency of law enforcement cases. Representatives from Flock Safety also delivered a presentation to address concerns about how the tools work and how the data is used. That representative explained this technology focuses solely on vehicles identified as being involved in a crime or vehicles of interest, not people.
During that same meeting, Tony Filipski, a Cheektowaga resident, said he supports the expansion despite reservations about government surveillance.
"I'm in favor of it. I don't like the government in my business either, but I think it's just where we're at," Filipski said. "The other things, unintended consequences. Missing persons, vulnerable or endangered. Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts. The license plate reader helps you get that."
Watch: Privacy vs. public safety: Cheektowaga residents debate adding more license plate reader cameras
The 7 News I-Team has submitted a formal request for information about any disciplinary action taken against the three employees.
Last month, Flock made serious changes to the way this data is collected after growing backlash.
According to ABC News, "The new safeguards include requiring law enforcement to label every search with a criminal case number, and instituting an automatic review for abnormal search activities, which will trigger proactive lockouts for those users."
Flock will now keep data for seven days rather than 30, as it had been.
