By Carl Fish
HAINES CITY, Fla. — A Haines City police officer has been arrested after an internal investigation found he allegedly used the department’s access to the FLOCK license plate camera system hundreds of times to track a vehicle associated with his estranged wife.
Officer Christopher Goodson has been charged with one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices, and one count of official misconduct. Both charges are third-degree felonies, according to the arrest affidavit.
Goodson has served with the Haines City Police Department since March 2022. The department said he has indicated his intention to resign following the investigation.
According to the affidavit, the investigation began after Goodson went to the home of a supervisor and disclosed that he had made several inquiries in the FLOCK camera system involving his estranged wife’s vehicle.
The supervisor was identified in the affidavit as Haines City Police Lt. Carter.
According to investigators, Goodson made the disclosure after receiving a text message indicating that The Washington Post had contacted his estranged wife and told her the newspaper was working on a story concerning his alleged use of FLOCK to follow her location.
Goodson allegedly told the lieutenant that he had searched the vehicle several times using FLOCK in order to keep track of his children’s location when they were with his estranged wife.
Haines City Police opened a criminal investigation and placed Goodson on administrative leave with pay.
Investigators then reviewed Goodson’s activity within the FLOCK system.
According to the affidavit, a search covering September 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, found Goodson had entered the license plate number of a vehicle associated with his estranged wife into the FLOCK database 717 times.
The affidavit details a significant increase in searches during portions of 2025. Investigators reported 86 entries in August 2025, 280 in September, 72 in October, 104 in November and 68 in December.
Investigators said the searches were conducted using Goodson’s employee credentials and were made through a department-issued laptop and cellphone.
According to the affidavit, Goodson allegedly selected a variety of law enforcement justifications when accessing the system, including criminal motor vehicle offenses, drugs and narcotics, assault and battery, fleeing and eluding, traffic infractions, larceny and theft, wanted persons and felony investigations.
However, investigators wrote that Goodson’s estranged wife was not involved in any criminal investigation during the period examined, nor was the vehicle associated with a crime that would have required Goodson to search for its location.
The case was presented to the Polk County State Attorney’s Office on August 11. According to the affidavit, investigators determined there was probable cause to charge Goodson with the two offenses.
Haines City Police Chief Isaac Jackson called the situation “an unfortunate incident” and said the department does not tolerate unauthorized or personal use of investigative databases or law enforcement information systems.
“These resources are provided for legitimate official purposes only and must be used responsibly and in accordance with department policies and applicable laws,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the department remains committed to transparency and accountability despite the case involving one of its own officers.
The chief also said he has ordered additional quarterly measures to ensure department personnel are accessing investigative databases only for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
The charges against Goodson are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
