Denver‑area resident Chrisanna Elser, a financial planner in her 40s, filed a federal civil suit on Monday in the U.S. District Court for Colorado. The complaint names Delaware‑based surveillance firm Flock Safety, the towns of Columbine Valley and Bow Mar, Columbine Valley Police Sergeant Jamie Milliman and Police Chief Brett Cottrell as defendants.
Allegations of Unconstitutional Surveillance
Elser’s attorney, Andy McNulty, says the lawsuit seeks accountability for what he describes as an unconstitutional use of automated license‑plate readers. ‘We want a resolution that holds Flock, Bow Mar, and Columbine Valley and its officers accountable, and that makes sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else,’ McNulty told reporters.
According to the complaint, on September 27, 2025, Sgt. Milliman delivered a criminal summons to Elser’s home, accusing her of petty theft for allegedly taking a $25 package from a doorstep in Bow Mar. Milliman cited Flock data that claimed Elser had driven through the town 20 times the previous month and was present from 11:52 a.m. to 12:09 p.m. on the day of the alleged theft.
Evidence Shows No Presence
Elser requested the underlying evidence, but Milliman refused to produce it. She later presented video from the dash‑camera of her Rivian truck, proving she never stopped in Bow Mar during the relevant window. The charge was dismissed after the footage was reviewed.
‘She had to put together a long list of evidence to exonerate herself,’ McNulty said. ‘It was clear from the beginning that she hadn’t committed this crime and that these searches of her were unconstitutional.’
Town Responses and Officer Discipline
Columbine Valley Town Clerk JD McCrumb said the town has not been served the lawsuit and cannot comment on pending litigation due to policy. Bow Mar declined to comment as well.
The town of Columbine Valley released a statement indicating that Sgt. Milliman would face disciplinary action, though it did not specify the outcome. According to McNulty, Milliman received only a reprimand for being rude and condescending.
Broader Privacy Concerns
Elser’s lawsuit highlights growing concerns about private‑company surveillance systems that record every vehicle passing through a neighborhood. ‘I had no idea the Flock cameras existed or that a private company was keeping a record of every time I drove past my own neighborhood,’ she said in a press release. ‘If it can happen to me, it can happen to you.’
She is seeking an injunction to stop Flock and the two towns from using the cameras to surveil residents without clear justification, as well as compensation for emotional distress and punitive damages.
Flock Safety’s Role in Law Enforcement
Flock Safety’s license‑plate‑reading cameras have been praised by many law‑enforcement agencies as tools for locating stolen vehicles and solving crimes. However, the technology has also sparked privacy debates nationwide. In August, cameras in unincorporated Summit County were vandalized, prompting the sheriff’s office to deactivate all units for 30 days before reinstating them.
The outcome of Elser’s case could set an important precedent for how municipalities and private vendors balance public‑safety benefits with constitutional privacy protections.
What Residents Can Expect
While the lawsuit proceeds, residents of Columbine Valley, Bow Mar and the surrounding Denver metro area should watch for any policy changes regarding the deployment of automated surveillance. The towns have not announced any immediate modifications to their camera programs.
McNulty urges other citizens who feel they have been wrongly targeted to consider legal action, emphasizing that the case underscores the need for transparent, evidence‑based policing.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
