Ohio police lieutenant indicted over alleged Flock camera searches

Sharonville police lieutenant Walter Cordes was indicted in Ohio over alleged personal use of his department’s Flock license plate cameras.

Prosecutors say he searched the system 29 times to track someone he knew between December 2024 and April 2026, for reasons unrelated to police work.

The person’s identity and why Cordes allegedly searched for them have not been made public.

The searches came to light after Cordes reported his use during a department audit in June and admitted it in an interview.

A grand jury charged him with unauthorized use of computer or telecommunications property, a fifth-degree felony that carries up to 12 months in prison.

Cordes is on administrative leave while Sharonville police complete their own investigation.

The case adds to other recent allegations of Flock camera misuse and concerns that such searches can undermine public trust in law enforcement.