Flock camera flub sparks federal lawsuit
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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.