There are plenty of stories highlighting how automated license plate reader cameras help police recover stolen vehicles, track down suspects, and solve serious crimes. For many law enforcement agencies, systems like Flock have become valuable investigative tools.
Those systems, however, also require a significant amount of trust. When someone with authorized access is accused of using them for personal reasons instead of official police work, that trust can disappear almost instantly.
That’s exactly what happened in Central Florida, where a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office detective has been fired and arrested after investigators say she improperly accessed multiple law enforcement databases, including the agency’s Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.
The allegations have not only resulted in criminal charges, but also prompted the sheriff to suspend the agency’s use of Flock cameras while a department-wide audit is conducted.
Internal Audit Uncovered Unauthorized Database Searches
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Sheriff Patrick Breeden announced that the investigation began on July 23 after an internal audit uncovered what the agency described as “improper and unlawful” use of several restricted law enforcement databases. According to the sheriff, irregular activity was traced to Brandy Almany, who had been employed with the agency since 2019.
Investigators say Almany bypassed established procedures and accessed the Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS), the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID), and the Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.
According to the sheriff’s office, those searches were conducted to gather information about the ex-wife of Almany’s husband and were unrelated to any legitimate criminal justice function.
Detective Accused of Falsifying Records To Hide Personal Searches
Investigators say she used unrelated case numbers and fabricated investigative justifications to make the database activity appear legitimate. After being interviewed, Almany was immediately suspended while the investigation was presented to the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Following that review, an arrest warrant was issued charging Almany with one count of official misconduct and three counts of offenses against computer users. According to the sheriff’s office, the charges say she knowingly exceeded her authorized access to sheriff’s office computer systems, the DAVID database, and the CCIS database to obtain confidential information for personal purposes.
Sheriff Patrick Breeden described the arrest as one of the most difficult actions he has taken during his tenure, saying, “As your Sheriff, I’ve promised accountability and transparency. Today, I had to arrest one of my own for misuse of multiple law enforcement databases.”
Commenters Praise Sheriff for Arresting One of His Own
Most commenters praised Sheriff Patrick Breeden for publicly announcing the arrest and termination rather than handling the matter quietly. Many called the decision a sign of strong leadership, with remarks like “That’s how trust remains,” “Congratulations for doing the right thing,” and “This is my Sheriff!” reflecting the overall tone.
Several commenters said the incident should serve as a reminder that law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard than the average person. One person urged families not to pressure relatives in law enforcement to misuse their access, warning that it can ruin careers and lead to criminal charges, while others said abuse of police databases should never be excused simply because the suspect wears a badge.
Although many described the allegations against the detective as disappointing, they also viewed the sheriff’s response as evidence that accountability was working. Comments such as “There are bad people in every profession,” “Thank you for maintaining a high professional standard,” and “We appreciate that there is no special allowance made” reflected a widespread belief that the department handled the situation appropriately by investigating one of its own rather than protecting her.