MAULDIN, S.C. — A Mauldin Police Department officer was fired after officials said she repeatedly misused the department’s Flock Safety license plate reader system to track a vehicle associated with a former significant other.
The Mauldin Police Department confirmed that Officer Ellie Anna Hammond was terminated on Aug. 3, 2026. The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy also confirmed the termination and reported that the alleged misuse occurred between March and July 2026.
The department has declined to provide additional details regarding Hammond’s termination, citing the matter as a personnel issue.
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Records: Flock System Allegedly Used 166 Times
According to information provided by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and reported by local media, Hammond allegedly accessed the Flock system 166 times between March and July to track the same vehicle for personal purposes. The vehicle was reportedly associated with a former significant other.
Officials said Hammond entered several purported law enforcement justifications when conducting the searches, including:
- Warrant check
- Traffic infraction
- Welfare check
According to officials, those stated reasons were not truthful and did not reflect the actual purpose of the searches.
The allegations concern Hammond’s use of law enforcement-accessible license plate reader data and do not, based on currently available reporting, involve an allegation that she physically followed the vehicle.
Hammond Has Not Been Criminally Charged
The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy confirmed that Hammond has not been arrested and that no criminal charges have been filed against her in connection with the alleged Flock misuse.
No criminal conviction has resulted from the allegations described in the personnel records.
Hammond was reportedly hired by the Mauldin Police Department in June 2024 and assigned to uniform patrol after completing required training and a psychological evaluation.
Other Upstate Officers Fired Following Flock Misuse Investigations
Hammond’s termination follows several other recent disciplinary cases involving law enforcement access to Flock Safety license plate reader information in South Carolina.
In July, the Greer Police Department terminated two officers following an investigation into alleged improper Flock searches.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office also terminated two employees after an internal audit identified misuse of the agency’s Flock Safety license plate reader system. Sheriff Hobart Lewis said the decision followed a review of the searches and interviews with the employees.
Greenville County officials have said they intend to continue using the technology despite the misconduct cases. Agency officials described the system as an investigative tool used in cases involving arrest warrants, stolen vehicles, aggravated assaults and missing or endangered persons.
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Flock Safety Faces Nationwide Scrutiny
The South Carolina incidents come amid increased national scrutiny of automated license plate reader systems and the ability of authorized users to search vehicle-location data.
Flock Safety operates a nationwide network of automated cameras that capture license plate numbers and other vehicle characteristics. Thousands of law enforcement agencies in 49 states have access to Flock data for investigative purposes, according to the Associated Press.
Law enforcement agencies have credited license plate reader systems with helping investigators locate missing people, identify stolen vehicles and track suspects in serious crimes. Privacy and civil liberties advocates, however, have raised concerns about the scale of data collection, cross-jurisdictional data sharing and the potential for unauthorized searches.
The Associated Press reported that nearly 50 instances have been identified nationally in which officers were charged or accused of conducting unauthorized searches, including cases involving current or former romantic partners and family members.
Flock Announces New Safeguards
On Aug. 13, Flock Safety announced changes intended to strengthen oversight and reduce opportunities for unauthorized use of its system.
According to the company and reporting by the Associated Press, several safeguards that were previously optional are expected to become mandatory for law enforcement customers by Jan. 1.
The announced changes include:
- Requiring law enforcement customers to use an auditing system designed to detect abnormal search activity.
- Potentially locking users out of the system pending internal review when abnormal activity is detected.
- Requiring searches to be associated with a code from an agency’s records management system tying the search to a specific case.
- Automatically flagging emergency search overrides for review.
- Reducing Flock’s standard data-retention period from 30 days to seven days, except when information is preserved as evidence associated with a case.
- Allowing agencies to restrict the types of offenses for which outside agencies may search their data.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley said the changes are intended to increase accountability and give individual jurisdictions greater control over how their systems are used.
Civil liberties organizations and other critics have argued that additional legal and judicial safeguards may still be necessary, while law enforcement organizations have emphasized the investigative value of license plate reader technology when used under proper controls.
Current Status
As of Aug. 17, 2026:
- Ellie Anna Hammond is no longer employed by the Mauldin Police Department.
- Her termination became effective Aug. 3.
- Officials allege she conducted 166 Flock searches involving a vehicle associated with a former significant other between March and July.
- Officials allege the law enforcement reasons entered for the searches did not accurately represent their purpose.
- Hammond has not been arrested.
- No criminal charges have been filed against her in connection with the allegations.
Cop Talk LIVE will update this report if criminal charges, administrative proceedings or additional official records become publicly available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Flock cameras?
Flock Safety systems include automated license plate reader cameras that photograph passing vehicles and record identifying vehicle characteristics, including license plate information. Authorized agencies can search collected data as part of criminal investigations and other legitimate law enforcement functions.
Why was Ellie Hammond fired?
According to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, Hammond was terminated after allegedly accessing Flock data 166 times for personal purposes involving a vehicle associated with a former significant other. Officials also allege she entered inaccurate law enforcement justifications for those searches.
Was Hammond arrested?
No. The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy confirmed that Hammond has not been arrested and that no criminal charges have been filed against her in connection with the alleged misconduct.
Are Flock cameras illegal?
Flock license plate reader systems are used by law enforcement agencies across the United States. Their use, data-sharing practices and regulatory requirements can vary by jurisdiction. Privacy and constitutional questions surrounding automated license plate reader networks continue to be debated in courts, legislatures and local governments.
Is Flock changing how police searches are monitored?
Yes. Flock announced in August 2026 that it plans to require additional auditing and case-linking safeguards for law enforcement users and reduce its standard data-retention period from 30 days to seven days. Many of the changes are expected to become mandatory by Jan. 1.
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