Flock camera flub sparks federal lawsuit

Flock camera flub sparks federal lawsuit

A botched $25 porch-theft case in Bow Mar is now a federal lawsuit challenging how police use Flock Safety's cameras across Colorado.

Why it matters: Chrisanna Elser's lawsuit could help set limits on how Colorado police use Flock data to track people's movements.

Driving the news: The Denver resident sued Flock Safety, Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Columbine Valley Police Chief Bret Cottrell and Sgt. Jamie Milliman this week.

  • Police wrongly accused her of stealing a package from a Bow Mar porch in September 2025.

    • The latest: Elser is seeking class-action status to represent vehicle owners and lessees whose license plates have been logged by Flock cameras throughout the state.

  • She's also asking a judge to require warrants, case numbers, supervisor approval and audits when Colorado law enforcement agencies search Flock records.

    • State of play: At least 10 Colorado counties and towns have recently cut ties with Flock due to privacy, data sharing and accuracy concerns.

    Catch up quick: Elser alleges Milliman used Flock records to place her green Rivian in Bow Mar around the time of the theft, then cited her for stealing the package.

  • In fact, Elser was at a tailor.
  • Her vehicle's cameras, phone location data and the tailor's security footage showed she was never where the package disappeared.
  • Police voided her summons 18 days later.

    • Milliman pulled a month's worth of Flock records for Elser's vehicle but wouldn't review the Rivian video, the lawsuit says.

  • "You can't get a breath of fresh air in or out of that town without us knowing," the sergeant told Elser at the time.

    • By the numbers: Bow Mar pays Columbine Valley more than $300,000 annually for public safety and court services.

    The big picture: Elser argues Flock built a surveillance system without safeguards that could have stopped police from wrongly accusing her.

  • The suit alleges Columbine Valley officers could search historical vehicle movements without a warrant, case number or supervisor approval.
  • "An officer with a login and a license plate can retrieve a month of a stranger's life…" the 64-page lawsuit says.

    • What they're saying: "We have not been served with this legal action, and it is our policy not to comment on any pending litigation," Columbine Valley's town administrator J.D. McCrumb said.

  • "Flock stands by the accuracy and integrity of its technology and intends to vigorously defend itself in this litigation," the company said in a statement.

    • A spokesperson for Cottrell didn't respond to Axios' request for comment.

    The other side: Columbine Valley previously said Milliman reasonably thought he should issue the summons.

  • The chief later reprimanded the sergeant over his demeanor and ordered him to complete more training.