Who Is Laurie Moore? NY Sheriff's Investigator Accused of Tracking Ex-Girlfriend 3,000 Times With Flock Cameras
Laurie Moore, 47, was arrested after authorities accused the Albany County sheriff's investigator of making more than 4,000 unauthorized Flock searches, including about 3,000 involving her former girlfriend's vehicle.
Laurie Moore, a 47-year-old senior investigator with the Albany County Sheriff's Office in New York, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after authorities accused her of using a law enforcement license plate camera system to conduct more than 4,000 unauthorized searches involving five people she knew.
About 3,000 searches allegedly involved the vehicle of her former girlfriend. Moore, a 13-year veteran of the sheriff's office, faces misdemeanor charges of official misconduct and second-degree falsifying business records.
The case came to light after an outside source alerted the sheriff's office to suspicious database activity on Friday, September 4. An initial review found hundreds of questionable searches, but an expanded audit allegedly uncovered more than 4,000.
The case has raised questions about how law enforcement surveillance tools can be misused when officers use them for personal reasons rather than legitimate investigations.
Who is Laurie Moore?
Moore is a longtime employee of the Albany County Sheriff's Office and had access to the Flock Safety license plate reader system from around the end of 2024.
According to authorities, she allegedly searched information connected to five people known to her. The largest number of searches involved her former girlfriend's vehicle, which investigators say was searched about 3,000 times.
Four other license plates were allegedly searched hundreds of times each.
Authorities also accused Moore of improperly accessing New York Department of Motor Vehicles records for unofficial purposes. Investigators said some of the Flock searches were supported by false justifications.
Moore has been suspended indefinitely from the sheriff's office. She is scheduled to appear in New Scotland Town Court at 5 p.m. on September 24.
The authorities have not publicly explained why Moore allegedly tracked the vehicles or provided further details about her relationships with the people whose information was searched.
How was the alleged tracking discovered?
The investigation began after an outside source contacted the sheriff's office on September 4, according to Sheriff Craig Apple.
The tip prompted an audit of Flock system activity. Investigators initially discovered roughly 200 searches connected to one vehicle. As professional standards personnel and the sheriff's office's in-house counsel expanded the review, they allegedly found thousands more searches.
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Apple said the review eventually revealed the scale of the alleged activity.
"As professional standards and in-house counsel expanded the audit, the true scope emerged," Apple said.
The sheriff's office said there is currently no indication that other members of the agency participated in unauthorized vehicle tracking. However, another command staff member has been placed on administrative leave while a separate internal investigation continues.
What are flock cameras?
Flock cameras are automated license plate readers used by law enforcement agencies to locate and identify vehicles. The cameras can capture license plate information and other vehicle details, allowing authorized investigators to search for vehicles connected to criminal investigations.
The technology can be useful when police are trying to reconstruct a vehicle's movements or locate a suspect. But the same capability can create privacy concerns if access is not properly controlled.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple defended the technology while acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations against Moore.
"I've long been a strong defender of LPR technology because I've seen firsthand the good that it can do," Apple said, referring to license plate readers. He said the technology has helped authorities investigate cases including murders, organized retail theft and burglaries.
District Attorney Lee Kindlon also defended the system while stressing the need to prevent misuse.
"It has helped us catch a lot of bad guys," Kindlon said. "It finds missing kids and gives families answers that they otherwise would not have. It is invaluable, and it is worth protecting. Which is exactly why we cannot be let it used in any other way."
What changes has the sheriff's office made?
The alleged misuse prompted Albany County authorities to tighten access to Flock data.
Apple said searches are now restricted to supervisors. The activity is also subject to an Internal Affairs audit every 30 days, with reviews escalated to senior command staff.
The changes are intended to create additional oversight around who can search the database and how those searches are monitored.
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Apple described the alleged conduct as a breach of the trust placed in law enforcement.
"What happened here is a breach of that trust. And for that, I'm truly sorry," Apple said. "But let me be clear. It also demonstrates that when somebody abuses that trust, we'll hold them accountable."
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