Fort Lauderdale Detective Fired for Misusing GPS Tracker and Police Databases

Internal Affairs Investigation and Firing

• 🎯 Detective Henry Lockwood of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been fired following an internal affairs investigation.
• 🔍 The investigation stemmed from allegations of abusing authority, misusing police databases, and tracking an ex-girlfriend with a GPS device.

Misuse of GPS Tracker

• 📍 A GPS tracker was discovered on Lockwood's ex-girlfriend's car while it was in for service.
• 📹 Surveillance video showed Lockwood, while on duty and in plain clothes, accessing a staff-only area to remove the device.
• 🤥 Lockwood provided conflicting statements about his involvement with the GPS tracker, initially denying and later admitting to placing it, before suggesting someone else might have.

Database and Vehicle Misuse

• 💻 Investigators found Lockwood accessed a restricted police database at least 26 times for personal reasons, looking up his ex-girlfriend, her brother, her friends, and a former girlfriend.
• ⚠️ Misusing such a database can be classified as a felony.
• 🚗 Lockwood also used his city-issued police vehicle for personal errands for his ex-girlfriend's brother, including trips to the gym, shopping, and general travel, confirmed by license plate readers.

Public Image vs. Allegations

• 🌟 Lockwood was previously a public face of the department, involved in community events like a turkey giveaway and a recruiting push during spring break, even appearing on Fox News.
• 👨‍🏫 He also served as a mentor to students through the youth behind the shield program.

Union Appeal and Legal Review

• ⚖️ The police union (FOP Lodge 31) is appealing the decision to fire Lockwood and supports his right to have the case reviewed by an independent arbitrator.
• 🏛️ Prosecutors in the Broward State Attorney's Public Corruption Unit are reviewing the case, but no charges have been filed at this time.