A Milwaukee police officer resigned from the police department after a woman discovered he ran her license plate 179 times. Milwaukee police contracted with Flock Safety to install hundreds of cameras and license plate readers around the city.

The Flock camera system was sold to police as tools to track stolen cars, locate dangerous criminals, and help stop crime. But residents are wary of how intrusive Flock cameras can be when anyone is allowed to use the technology.

A women checked a public website called “Have I Been Flocked,” to see whether automated license plate readers scanned her vehicle. She discovered her ex-boyfriend, who is a cop, ran her license plate 179 times over a 2-month period. He had been tracking her movements.

The police officer resigned after the woman filed a complaint.

The Flock Safety system allows any officer or city employee to login and run license plates to stalk women, including wives, girlfriends and ex-girlfriends.

Each search was logged as part of an “investigation,” but many searches have no link to law enforcement activity.

The City of Atlanta has seen a dramatic reduction in crime after contracting with Flock Safety.

Flock Safety cameras helped police in Lawrenceville, Georgia quickly track down a teen suspect who carjacked and killed an Uber driver on New Year’s Eve.

The Institute for Justice has documented at least 14 separate cases involving officers abusing license plate readers to stalk people.

Demonstrators in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and other cities have protested the use of Flock Safety cameras in their cities.

But police departments argue the technology is essential in helping solve violent crimes and locate stolen property.