· Waukegan, IL · Charged, not convicted
Waukegan, Illinois police officer charged with felony official misconduct over alleged plate-reader and database searches
A Waukegan Police Department officer has been charged with five counts of official misconduct, each a Class 3 felony, after an investigation into alleged misuse of law enforcement databases, including automated license plate readers, the department and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office said on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026 (Lake and McHenry County Scanner, NBC Chicago). An initial review found numerous searches of vehicles registered to department employees and people associated with them; investigators also examined the officer's activity in the state LEADS and federal NCIC systems (Lake and McHenry County Scanner). The officer was placed on administrative leave, and the department is running a department-wide audit of database use (NBC Chicago). Officials did not say which plate-reader system was involved; the department expanded its use of Flock cameras in 2024 (Lake and McHenry County Scanner). A court date is set for Nov. 3. The officer has been charged, not convicted.
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