FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A former Fort Pierce police officer was arrested Tuesday after investigators say he repeatedly accessed law enforcement databases without a legitimate police purpose, including hundreds of searches involving a vehicle registered to his ex-girlfriend.
Former Officer Josepher Crutchfield was arrested on four felony counts related to unauthorized computer access and was being held Tuesday at the St. Lucie County Jail on an $80,000 secured bond, Fort Pierce Police Chief David Smith announced during an afternoon news conference.
WATCH BELOW: Former Fort Pierce officer accused of Flock camera misuse
Smith said the investigation began after members of the media contacted the department on Aug. 7 with information raising concerns about Crutchfield's possible misuse of the department's Flock automated license plate reader system.
Crutchfield was placed on administrative leave that same day and immediately lost access to law enforcement systems. Police launched a criminal investigation by Aug. 10 in consultation with the State Attorney's Office.
Crutchfield resigned from the department on Aug. 18, before the investigation was completed.
Officer searched ex-girlfriend's license plate 382 times
Investigators found that between October 2025 and July 2026, Crutchfield allegedly used the Flock database 382 times to search the same vehicle license plate, according to Smith.
Police said Crutchfield used multiple reason categories to justify the searches, but investigators found no legitimate law enforcement purpose for them.
"Most of these queries were made while he was off duty," Smith said.
Investigators determined the vehicle was registered to Crutchfield's ex-girlfriend, according to Smith. He said records from other law enforcement databases showed Crutchfield's access involving the woman stretched back to 2023, although the Flock searches began in October 2025.
When a reporter asked whether Crutchfield appeared to be tracking his ex-girlfriend, Smith said he would not speculate about Crutchfield's intentions, but added, "I think you can infer that he was tracking an ex-girlfriend."
Police said the woman whose information was accessed has been notified and is part of the case.
Investigation expanded to four police databases
After discovering the Flock searches, investigators expanded their review to other law enforcement databases, including FCIC/NCIC, DAVID and TLO.
Police said they identified additional searches involving the same license plate that had no legitimate law enforcement purpose.
Smith said systems such as DAVID and FCIC/NCIC can contain sensitive personal information, including a person's address and date of birth.
Officers are shown a warning each time they access the databases and must acknowledge that the information is being accessed for a legitimate law enforcement purpose, Smith said. The warning also advises users that misuse could result in loss of access, disciplinary action or criminal charges.
The four databases are tied to the four felony charges Crutchfield now faces, according to Smith.
Chief calls arrest a 'black eye' for department
Smith acknowledged the arrest was damaging for the department but said the Fort Pierce Police Department wanted to be transparent about what investigators uncovered.
"This is a black eye for the agency, we know that," Smith said. "But we're still standing here in front of you being transparent about what occurred."
Smith said the case should demonstrate that officers who misuse law enforcement systems will be held accountable.
"The badge does not provide immunity from accountability," Smith said.
FPPD restricts access to Flock cameras
Smith also announced several changes to how Fort Pierce police can use automated license plate reader technology.
Under the new restrictions, Flock searches require prior approval from one of the department's two deputy chiefs, and access is limited to personnel at the rank of lieutenant or above.
The technology may now only be used for investigations involving forcible felonies or missing and endangered people, and every search must be connected to a case number.
The department also reduced its data retention period from 30 days to seven days.
The Fort Pierce Police Department added a position within its Office of Professional Standards to conduct monthly quality-assurance audits of law enforcement database use.
Smith said the department has also launched a comprehensive audit of its employees' use of law enforcement databases. As of Tuesday afternoon, he said no additional violations had been identified.
About 50 Flock cameras expected to be removed
Fort Pierce police are also preparing to remove approximately 50 Flock cameras from state and county rights of way following recent directives from the Florida Department of Transportation and St. Lucie County Commission, Smith said.
Smith defended the technology as a valuable investigative tool when used appropriately, pointing to its use in homicide investigations and a hit-and-run involving a 7-year-old girl.
"The cameras are here for our community's safety, not to be abused by those who are entrusted to safeguard them," Smith said.
The department initially announced Tuesday morning that Smith would hold a news conference regarding the arrest of a former officer accused of misusing police database systems.
WPTV has requested FPPD's Flock contracts and policies a week ago, but has not yet received them.
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