Columbine Valley, Colorado police used Flock Safety’s AI-powered license plate readers and Ring doorbell footage to wrongly accuse a woman of stealing a $25 package. The investigating officer expressed absolute certainty in the technology, refusing to show her the supposed evidence and telling her to prove her innocence in court. This incident highlights a dangerous reversal of due process, where automated surveillance shifts the burden of proof from the state to the accused.
The woman was forced to conduct her own investigation, using data from her vehicle’s onboard cameras and phone apps to establish an alibi. After she presented this exculpatory evidence, the police chief dismissed the charges, but only after she struggled for weeks to get officials to review her case. The officer faces unspecified disciplinary action, but the event raises serious questions about police over-reliance on flawed surveillance tech.