A New Bedford police officer is now on administrative leave after she allegedly accessed the department’s Flock Safety database to follow her ex-girlfriend, Target 12 has learned.

 

On Tuesday, the New Bedford Police Department announced the temporary suspension of its Flock camera technology following an audit that resulted in “internal investigations.”

 

According to The New Bedford Light, that announcement came one day after the news outlet inquired about “allegations that a patrol officer used the system to track her ex-girlfriend.”

 

Target 12 confirmed Officer Emily Pacheco was placed on paid leave Monday. Police said Pacheco was initially put on restrictive/desk duty Aug. 1, “at which time their access to department systems and databases was restricted.”

 

Court documents obtained by 12 News include a complaint filed Monday by a woman who said she and Pacheco were in a romantic relationship for more than two years and lived together for about 90% of that time. She alleged that between April and July of this year, Pacheco placed her in “fear of imminent serious physical harm.”

 

When the woman moved out last September, she claimed that Pacheco insisted on remaining in contact. The woman said she eventually agreed and they attempted to “make the relationship work once again” around the holidays after Pacheco’s “persistency.”

 

The affidavit states that the couple “went no contact” for a week or two after a falling out around New Year’s. They later decided to go on a previously planned vacation together in March, according to the woman. She said she officially ended the relationship after the trip on April 5.

 

“After the breakup, I received endless calls and text messages even after asking to be left alone,” the woman wrote, adding that she eventually blocked Pacheco on all social media platforms.

 

Pacheco allegedly created fake phone numbers to reach her, showed up at her home unannounced and refused to leave when asked. The woman also alleged that Pacheco visited the hospital where she worked while on duty to “speak to me when I did not want to.”

 

“On April 26, [Pacheco] saw me pull into my home while on

duty, got out of her cruiser and refused to let me leave,” the woman wrote. “My supervisor on duty was notified and came to deescalate the situation.”