Fired Cornelius officer was dating Mooresville officer arrested over Flock, PD says
A Cornelius police officer fired on Friday was in a relationship with the Mooresville police officer arrested after allegedly misusing a Flock database to search for an ex-partner.
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Edward Florentino, who was fired Aug. 21, was dating Elizabeth Snowman, who was accused of using the Flock system to search Florentino’s ex-wife, The Charlotte Observer’s news partner WSOC reported.
Flock cameras, also known as automatic license plate readers, collect vehicle information in a searchable database by thousands of law enforcement agencies, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department.
Snowman, who was released after posting bond, was accused of accessing the Flock database 31 times, 29 of which were on duty, to track Florentino’s ex-wife. Ten officers were subsequently investigated by the department after Snowman’s arrest, but found “no additional criminal misuse.”
Authorities cited the department’s General Order 25, which addresses rules of conduct, but has not elaborated, WSOC reported. The department has not responded to The Charlotte Observer’s request for information.
Florentino said he told the department about Snowman’s arrest and was placed on administrative leave, WSOC reported. He said he had no idea she was using the system and offered to take a polygraph test to prove his innocence, but was fired anyway.
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“I think it happened just because I was guilty by association,” Florentino said. “Basically, because I was standing next to her. Because I do have a relationship with her.”
Despite praise from law enforcement in helping solve crimes including missing persons and stolen vehicles, many municipalities are reconsidering Flock contracts because of privacy and police misuse concerns.
Davidson County leaders voted Monday to remove Flock cameras from the community, and the city of Asheville did the same Tuesday night following a city council vote.
Multiple police officers in North and South Carolina have been arrested over accusations of misusing Flock cameras. A CMPD officer was arrested after searching for the license plate of a person buying drugs from his friend in Boone to see if they were an undercover police officer.
However, Florentino said he never worked directly with Flock cameras, WSOC reported.
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