GOODYEAR, AZ – An internal‑affairs investigation has revealed that former Goodyear Police Officer Kristopher Jackson repeatedly misused the department’s automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) system to look up the license plate of a woman he met during a call for service.
Misuse of ALPR and database access
According to the report obtained by Arizona’s Family, Jackson searched the victim’s plate 36 times between Jan. 4 and Feb. 8, including 14 searches in a single day. He also ran the woman’s name through the state’s criminal‑justice database (ACJIS) five times on the day of the call and once more on Jan. 10. In addition, he performed a few searches on the ex‑boyfriend’s plate.
Jackson’s actions violated Goodyear Police Department policy on ALPR use, which is intended for legitimate law‑enforcement purposes, not personal investigations. The internal‑affairs unit discovered the pattern in July after an audit of the Flock camera system flagged the excessive searches.
Call for service and subsequent conduct
On Jan. 4, Jackson responded to a call from a woman who reported that her ex‑boyfriend had entered her home, taken her cat, and threatened to send partially nude photos to her workplace. While the officer sat with the woman, she declined to file a formal report that day, hoping the cat would be returned. She asked Jackson to call if the cat was not back by Jan. 8.
During the call, Jackson turned off his body‑worn camera about 23 minutes in and did not clear the call until 40 minutes later. He never completed a written report. A forensic review of his city‑issued phone found no calls between him and the woman before Jan. 31, when she left a voicemail stating her cat had been killed.
Department response and resignation
Chief Brian Issitt confirmed that, had Jackson not resigned, he would have faced termination for multiple policy violations, including abuse of authority, breach of body‑worn camera policy, and dishonesty. Jackson resigned before the internal‑affairs investigation concluded.
Glendale police later examined whether Jackson had illegally accessed criminal‑history records, but no charges were filed.
Broader context of ALPR misuse
This incident is not isolated. In August, an Apache Junction officer resigned after using Flock cameras to track his wife. The Institute for Justice has documented dozens of cases nationwide where officers misused ALPR systems to monitor private individuals, often women.
Police‑practices expert Michael Gennaco, who also audits Flock systems, said the department’s audit highlighted how easily an officer’s credentials can be traced when the database is accessed, underscoring the need for stronger oversight.
Community reaction
Local resident Lindsay, who lives in Goodyear, called the behavior “wrong in every sense of the word” and said the officer should be penalized. The community’s concern reflects a broader demand for transparency and accountability in law‑enforcement technology use.
The Goodyear Police Department has pledged to review its ALPR policies and training to prevent future misuse.
Original reporting: azfamily KTVK/KPHO Phoenix (news) — read the source article.
