{"id":2646579,"date":"2026-08-18T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T18:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cop-fired-after-allegedly-using-flock-cameras-to-stalk-former-boyfriend-she-abused-system-166-times\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T14:55:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T18:55:47","slug":"cop-fired-after-allegedly-using-flock-cameras-to-stalk-former-boyfriend-she-abused-system-166-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cop-fired-after-allegedly-using-flock-cameras-to-stalk-former-boyfriend-she-abused-system-166-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Cop Fired After Allegedly Using Flock Cameras to Stalk Former Boyfriend \u2013 She Abused System 166 Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcop-fired-after-allegedly-using-flock-cameras-to-stalk-former-boyfriend-she-abused-system-166-times%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2646579&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A South Carolina police officer, Ellie Anna Hammond, was dismissed for allegedly using the Flock camera system improperly to monitor an individual with whom she had a past relationship. Hammond accessed the Flock cameras 166 times between March and July, falsely justifying each access with reasons like warrant checks or traffic infractions. Although she was not charged criminally, her employment was terminated, and the department declined to comment further. Flock cameras, which capture vehicle license plates and types, are intended for lawful surveillance but have been misused by officers in various states, including North Carolina. In response, Flock\u2019s CEO announced reforms effective January 1, requiring audits and stricter access protocols to prevent misuse, such as linking searches to specific cases and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-tiktok-is-tracking-users-keystrokes-on-external-websites\/\" title=\"Report: Tiktok Is Tracking Users Keystrokes On External Websites\">monitoring user activity<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A South Carolina police officer has been fired for allegedly using a Flock camera system to check on an individual with whom she had had a relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Ellie Anna Hammond, 24, was fired on Aug. 3, the Mauldin Police Department said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koco.com\/article\/officer-fired-flock-cameras-south-carolina\/73453532\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KOCO-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A department representative said no comment on the action would be coming, because it\u2019s \u201ca personnel matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hammond was fired due to alleged misconduct between March and July, according to documents from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.<\/p>\n<p>During that period, Hammond was accused of accessing the Flock camera system 166 different times to track a vehicle that belonged to an individual with whom she once had a relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Every time the system was accessed, a reason was provided, but the documents said those reasons were bogus.<\/p>\n<p>The reasons were variously listed as a warrant check, traffic infraction, or welfare check.<\/p>\n<p>Hammond was not charged with any crimes.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Criminal Justice Academy, Hammond was hired in June 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Flock cameras are motion-activated cameras that capture the license plates and types of vehicles passing anywhere the cameras are installed.<\/p>\n<p>Alleged misuse of Flock cameras has also been an issue in neighboring North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Mooresville police officer Elizabeth Snowman is accused of using the department\u2019s Flock cameras 31 times to track her boyfriend\u2019s former wife, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/officer-allegedly-flock-license-plate-cameras-track-boyfriends\/story?id=135418955&#038;cid=social_twitter_abcn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ABC News<\/a>. She was charged with accessing computers.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wbtv.com\/2026\/08\/04\/charlotte-mecklenburg-police-releases-flock-safety-agreement-after-officers-arrest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WBTV<\/a>, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Seth Elliot accessed his department\u2019s Flock system after being asked by the target of a drug investigation in another county to provide information on a vehicle used by an undercover officer. Elliot was charged with illegally accessing a government computer.<\/p>\n<p>A report from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/technology\/2026\/08\/02\/how-police-officers-used-vast-network-cameras-spy-their-exes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Washington Post<\/a> noted that other communities have battled misuse of the technology.<\/p>\n<p>Flock CEO Garrett Langley said changes are being made that will take effect Jan. 1, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/flock-license-plate-cameras-surveillance-deflock-2a93bc075e2f7ffcca9e04a35d75a3fe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The changes require police agencies to audit their systems for misuse using a tool that will lock out users who appear to be abusing the system.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of free-floating searches, police will be required to enter a code that connects a search to an existing open case before the search can be run.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Ellie Hammond, 24, was terminated on August 3 by Mauldin PD, with officials citing personnel reasons and no further comment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2646580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-1-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4409,33010,4835,33309,14429],"class_list":["post-2646579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-career","tag-criminal-justice","tag-misconduct","tag-police-misconduct","tag-surveillance"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-1-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2646579"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2646588,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646579\/revisions\/2646588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2646580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2646579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2646579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2646579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}