Apache Junction officer resigns after misusing Flock cameras for personal reasons

An Apache Junction officer resigned recently after an internal investigation determined that he misused Flock automated license plate reader cameras earlier this year to try and locate his wife during a dispute, authorities announced.

Police Chief Michael Pooley said during a news conference Monday that the department was notified by the Casa Grande Police Department about the misuse on April 19 after the former officer, Joshua McDaniels, reported a welfare check to them and mentioned that he used the license plate reading technology to track his wife’s car to the city.

McDaniels also allegedly asked his own department’s dispatchers to use the license plate readers to attempt a welfare check on his wife.

Pooley emphasized McDaniels was immediately put on administrative leave, his access was restricted and an internal probe was initiated.

He noted it was not a criminal investigation as there is no state law that would cause the former officer’s actions to be considered criminal. However, Pooley added that he believes misuse of the technology should be a crime.

“When we concluded this investigation two weeks ago, … the officer did resign, but had he not resigned he would have been terminated,” Pooley said. “We understand our officers, our profession is held to a very high standard. … When they blur the lines or they blur their judgement, regardless of what’s going on in their personal lives, they have to speak for their actions and they have to be held accountable.”

The chief identified McDaniels as a military veteran who had been with the department for almost two years. He noted that the former officer had gone through a lot over the last year as he was the officer who drove Officer Gabriel Facio to the hospital after he was shot in the face while responding to a call in June 2025.

“There were a lot of things that were going on outside of this that we had to make sure that we were looking at his own welfare and things that were going on his life,” Pooley said. “But my job as the police chief is to build trust … with our community. We want people to know that we are given certain privileges to help keep this community safe … and we will not allow any of our employees to tarnish this type of privilege for any personal reasons whatsoever.”

What steps are Apache Junction police taking to safeguard Flock camera use?

The Apache Police Department has been using Flock cameras for four years and they have helped solve many cases, including locating a missing 13-year-old girl who was the subject of a Turquoise alert in June, according to Pooley.

However, following the incident with McDaniels, the department put measures in place to ensure future misuse does not take place.

Officers now have to get a supervisor to approve any searches using the license plate reading technology unless it is part of an active, ongoing case.

Additionally, there are audits conducted by Flock every week, which are then checked by two employees to ensure officers are using the technology properly.

“Is it a perfect system? No, we’re still trying to put this system together,” Pooley said. “We don’t want to lose the trust of the people. That, for me, is one of the most important things. Without the people, police can’t do our job.”

Pooley added that while he disagrees with Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple that the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, if there was a decision made to get rid of them, he would support it.

The city of Chandler discontinued its use of Flock cameras last week after an audit flagged potential misuse of the system by a department employee.

Related

Thunderstorms outside Valley bring dust, winds to Phoenix metro areaPolice investigating homicide after man dies being detained during southeast Phoenix fightMotorcyclist critically hurt after crash involving car in west PhoenixMan injured in early morning shooting in north PhoenixHeidi’s Village launches pilot program to find homes for long-stay shelter dogs2 men arrested in connection with south Phoenix house party shooting that left 1 injured