BAYTOWN, Texas – The Baytown Police Department has launched both an internal affairs investigation and a criminal investigation after receiving allegations that one of its officers misused the department’s Flock Safety license plate reader system.
Police Chief John Stringer announced the investigations in a video message and Facebook post, saying the department is taking the allegations seriously and has requested outside assistance to ensure transparency.
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According to the chief, he has authorized an internal affairs investigation into potential policy violations, as well as a separate criminal investigation into whether any laws were broken.
“In the interest of objectivity and transparency, I’ve requested the assistance of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office throughout the entirety of the criminal investigation,” Stringer said.
The department has not identified the officer involved or disclosed the specific allegations, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
In the Facebook post, the department said transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust but acknowledged that it is limited in what it can release while the investigation remains active.
Stringer acknowledged community concerns surrounding privacy and the use of license plate reader technology, emphasizing that any misconduct would be addressed.
“The executive staff of the Baytown Police Department and I recognize our community’s concerns for the protection and respect of individual privacy, as well as for police accountability,” Stringer said. “If these allegations are sustained, then the employee involved will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law and policy.”
The chief also said maintaining the public’s trust remains a priority for the department.
“The Baytown Police Department has worked very hard to build trust and establish strong relationships in our community,” Stringer said. “We hold fast to the standards and trust that our community has given to us and that they expect from us.”
The department has not provided a timeline for the investigations or shared when additional information may be released.