A former Sarasota police officer was fired and arrested after investigators accused him of repeatedly misusing law-enforcement databases in Florida, including a Flock license-plate reader system.
Cory Waiters, 38, faces two felony charges and a misdemeanor charge following an investigation that began after Sarasota police learned Aug. 6 that he may have improperly accessed restricted databases, according to the Sarasota Police Department.
The case is drawing attention beyond Sarasota because Flock cameras are designed to help police identify and track vehicles. The allegation that an officer improperly used the system raises a much bigger question for Florida drivers: Who is allowed to search that data, and what stops someone from using it for personal reasons?
Investigators Flagged Repeated Searches of One Plate
According to the probable-cause affidavit cited by local reporting, investigators found hundreds of Flock searches involving the same Florida license plate. One account of the affidavit says there were 335 queries between May 20 and July 16; another report cites 358 searches between May and October 2025. Because published accounts differ on the precise count and time period, the underlying affidavit should be reviewed before publication of a final number.
Investigators also alleged Waiters improperly accessed Florida’s Driver and Vehicle Information Database, known as DAVID.
The affidavit reportedly indicated that Waiters was not actively working on a criminal investigation involving the vehicle during the relevant period.
The vehicle owner’s name was redacted from the publicly reported document.
The investigation itself began after the Sarasota Police Department learned of the alleged database misuse. According to the affidavit, a USA Today reporter alerted police to the Flock search activity.
Waiters was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 7. The department then conducted an agency-wide audit of its technology and database use, which police said was completed Aug. 14 and found the agency in compliance.
Waiters was terminated Aug. 19 after investigators developed probable cause, police said.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche said the department takes misconduct allegations seriously and will address conduct that falls short of its standards.
Why the Flock Camera Allegations Matter
Flock’s automated license-plate reader network is already a major part of the debate over police surveillance in Florida and elsewhere.
The Sarasota Police Department says its real-time operations center integrates license-plate readers with other digital systems to help officers track developing incidents and investigate crimes.
But recent investigations into alleged misuse by law-enforcement personnel have put additional scrutiny on how those systems are monitored.
Flock announced changes to its system earlier this month following public scrutiny, including a planned reduction in default data-storage time and new tools intended to flag potential misuse.
That makes the Sarasota case particularly timely: The alleged misuse came as questions about police access to automated vehicle-tracking data were already gaining national attention.
What Happens Next
Waiters remains accused, not convicted, and the allegations should not be treated as established facts. He is being held at the Sarasota County Jail, according to police and local reports.
The immediate editorial follow-up should be to obtain the complete probable-cause affidavit and arrest records, determine exactly what searches investigators say were improper, and establish whether the person associated with the repeatedly searched vehicle knew about the searches.
It is also worth pressing Sarasota officials on a basic accountability question: How did hundreds of searches of the same plate occur before the activity was flagged?
That answer could matter as much as the arrest itself.
