Florida Trooper Shared Flock and Private Data Over Snapchat With Fake Cop and Suspect …

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper accused of repeatedly giving restricted law-enforcement information to private individuals is now facing three felony charges, a statewide debate over police access to personal data and a public rebuke from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Alain Fernandez, a 15-year Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper assigned to Troop L in Fort Pierce, was arrested Sept. 9 in St. Lucie County on three third-degree felony counts of offenses against computer users. Court records set bond at $25,000 on each count. Fernandez was later released on bond, and FHP says his employment ended effective the same day. The case moved well beyond the Treasure Coast this week as details from a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigation spread publicly. DeSantis responded Monday by calling the conduct described in the case “unacceptable and a clear abuse of power.” The allegations reach beyond one Flock search. They involve restricted state and national databases, driver’s-license photographs, addresses, vehicle information, automated license-plate-reader data, and years of private messages. They also raise questions about what happens after privileged police access is allegedly misused: who gets told, what earlier police work gets reviewed, and how much the agencies responsible for that access disclose to
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