Albany Cop Suspended for Stalking Ex-Partner and Unauthorized Searches

A senior police investigator from Albany County has been suspended and faces criminal charges after allegedly using public surveillance cameras to stalk her ex-girlfriend more than 3,000 times. Laurie Moore, 47, held the rank of senior investigator with the Albany County Sheriff's Office when authorities say she abused her access to the Flock system. Prosecutors claim she targeted the vehicle of her former partner alone but also ran over 1,000 other unauthorized searches on vehicles belonging to four additional people known to her. Officials describe this behavior as a massive breach of public trust that undermined the integrity of law enforcement tools designed to solve crimes.

Sheriff Craig Apple confirmed an outside tip triggered the probe and led to Moore's arrest last Wednesday. Access logs show she had controlled accounts since roughly the end of 2024, yet the full extent of her misuse only came to light after in-house counsel expanded their audit process. The investigation also placed a command staff member on administrative leave, though no other employees were found to have mishandled the database. Apple expressed deep frustration at the incident because he has long been a strong defender of these programs.

I've seen firsthand the good that it can do, Apple stated during a press conference. He noted the technology helped solve heinous cases ranging from murders and organized retail thefts to burglaries that might otherwise have gone unsolved. He acknowledged there is skepticism surrounding such tools but insisted people must trust police to act immediately when that trust is broken. This case demonstrates exactly that accountability, he argued.

District Attorney Lee Kindlon echoed these sentiments at a news conference, emphasizing the value of the system for catching bad guys and locating missing children. It gives families answers they otherwise would not have, Kindlon said. He added that while the tool is invaluable and worth protecting, it cannot be allowed to be used in any other way than intended. The department has since tightened policies on database access. Now only supervisors can view Flock records, and their usage undergoes an audit with Internal Affairs reviewed every 30 days.

Moore currently faces misdemeanor charges for official misconduct and falsifying business records. She is scheduled to appear in court on September 24 and has not yet entered a plea. The situation leaves many wondering how far the line between authorized surveillance and stalking can be crossed before legal consequences strike.