Police officers across the United States have repeatedly entered jokes, gibberish and other flippant answers into the mandatory “reason for search” field of Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader network, according to an analysis by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, raising fresh questions about oversight of one of the country’s fastest-growing surveillance systems.

Among the cases identified by the EFF, an officer with the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department used Flock’s system in July 2025 to search for a license plate across more than 19,000 cameras covering 1,558 cities and towns nationwide. The reason entered for that search, according to Flock’s own records, was “LMAO.”

The Lake County search was far from an isolated incident. In a separate example the EFF highlighted, a Goshen Police Department officer searched 6,474 ALPR networks, representing data from 82,413 cameras, on May 7, 2025. The stated reason for that search was “idk.” The organization’s broader review of Flock’s search logs turned up a wide range of similarly dismissive entries, including “LOL,” “Hehe,” “Haha,” “blah” and “TBD,” the last of which appeared in more than 6,300 searches across more than 30 different agencies. In one case, an officer wrote: “robbery I don’t remember the case number leave me alone.” Other entries reviewed by the EFF included profanity and dismissive remarks such as “idiot,” “shithead” and “WEIRD KID,” alongside an entire category of searches where officers appeared to simply mash their keyboards, entering strings like “asdfg” and “gyghkkghghjkghjk” in place of any substantive explanation.

The searches identified in the EFF’s analysis span police departments across the country between 2023 and late 2025, when Flock changed how its reason field functions. Under the system in place during that period, officers were required to type a free-text explanation before running a search across Flock’s network, which uses automated license plate readers to collect vehicle data and allows law enforcement agencies to search information gathered by cameras across different jurisdictions.

Flock has since replaced that free-text field with a list of pre-populated categories tied to standardized offense types, a change the company has described as an improvement to its oversight process. The EFF pushed back sharply on that characterization in its published findings. “Flock Safety claims it has improved its system by requiring officers to select from a dropdown list of crimes before running a search, but that only makes it easier for officers to hide improper searches behind the veneer of uniformity,” the organization wrote. “The system does not require proof that the dropdown reason actually matches the true purpose of the search. With no warrant requirements, limited guardrails, and deficient audit processes, ALPR databases have fostered a culture of unrestricted access to everyone’s location information.”

The EFF said it contacted police departments whose officers appeared in its analysis. Some agencies confirmed that the officers involved had been counseled over their conduct, while others said they intended to investigate or review the flagged searches further. The findings add to a broader body of research the organization has published on Flock’s network over the past year, including earlier investigations documenting the surveillance of protesters, what the EFF described as discriminatory targeting of Romani individuals, and the tracking of women seeking reproductive health care, drawn from a dataset of more than 12 million searches logged by roughly 3,900 agencies between December 2024 and October 2025.

The scrutiny of Flock’s oversight practices has already prompted some law enforcement agencies to reconsider their use of the technology. Several police departments in Arizona have ended their contracts with Flock in recent months, citing privacy concerns and instances of misuse identified in internal audits, with some of those departments’ contracts subsequently picked up by competing surveillance vendors such as Axon. A review of Flock network audit data in Arizona found that property crime accounted for roughly a quarter of logged searches, with drug and narcotics investigations, traffic infractions and wanted-person checks making up smaller but still substantial shares of overall search activity.

The controversy comes as Flock has received high-profile political backing. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the company during remarks to reporters on Sunday, marking what reporting citing The Washington Post described as his first public endorsement of the technology. “I sort of like them because of that, because of law enforcement, but some people don’t,” Trump said, addressing criticism of the cameras. “They think it’s an infringement,” he added. “I like them.” Flock’s camera network has grown to more than 120,000 devices nationwide, according to the same reporting.

Flock markets its technology to police agencies and private communities as a tool for solving serious crimes, including carjackings, kidnappings and homicides, with automated license plate readers scanning passing vehicles and comparing captured plates against lists of vehicles police are actively seeking. Advocacy groups and independent researchers have separately built tools allowing members of the public to check whether their own license plates have been captured or searched within Flock’s network, reflecting growing public interest in understanding the scope of a surveillance system that now spans thousands of communities across the country.

The flippant search reasons documented by the EFF do not, by themselves, establish that any individual search was improper or unlawful, since the reason field’s content does not necessarily reflect an officer’s actual investigative purpose. But the findings have sharpened a broader debate over how much oversight should accompany a surveillance network capable of searching vehicle location data across thousands of jurisdictions simultaneously, particularly as Flock and competing ALPR providers continue expanding their camera networks nationwide with limited judicial oversight or standardized audit requirements governing how officers document their searches.

From emergency scenes to hospital hallways, classrooms, and military service, Schmidt has spent decades preparing for situations where every decision matters.

Based in Tyler, Texas, Schmidt has built a career across emergency medicine, nursing, fire service, law enforcement, and emergency management. Along the way, he has earned a long list of professional licenses and certifications. Yet he believes his greatest achievement is much simpler.

“The legacy you leave your kids and family is what matters most,” Schmidt says. “Everything else comes after that.”

That mindset has guided his work from the beginning.

How Edward Schmidt Built a Career in Emergency Medicine

Schmidt’s career has never followed a straight line. Instead, each role added another layer of knowledge.

He became a licensed paramedic, later earned his Registered Nurse credentials, and expanded into EMS instruction. He also served as a Texas firefighter and Texas peace officer before continuing his work in healthcare and emergency response.

His education never stopped. Schmidt completed advanced certifications in trauma care, pediatric life support, tactical medicine, hazardous materials, critical incident stress management, emergency management, and numerous FEMA training programs. He also completed military training with the Texas State Guard, graduating with honors in multiple leadership courses.

For Schmidt, learning has always been part of the job.

“Keep learning new things,” he says. “If you stop learning, you stop growing.”

That attitude has helped him stay current in fields where standards, technology, and best practices constantly evolve.

Why Continuous Learning Matters in Healthcare Leadership

Healthcare and emergency response leave little room for complacency. Procedures change. Equipment improves. New challenges appear.

Schmidt believes professionals have a responsibility to keep improving, not only for themselves but for the people who depend on them.

His credentials reflect that commitment. He has served as an instructor for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC). Teaching has become just as important as practicing.

“When you can teach others along the way and they succeed, that’s one of the best parts of the job,” Schmidt says.

Watching students become confident professionals gives him a different kind of satisfaction than earning another certification.

What Leadership Means to Edward Schmidt

Many people define leadership by titles. Schmidt defines it by consistency.

Throughout his career, he has worked in high-pressure environments where preparation, communication, and accountability directly affect outcomes.

His approach begins with integrity.

“Integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching,” he says.

That philosophy extends beyond emergency response. Whether working with patients, training future providers, or serving alongside fellow professionals, Schmidt believes trust is earned through actions repeated over time.

He also values organization and discipline.

“Time management is one of the biggest skills anyone can develop,” he says. “If you manage your time well, you can accomplish much more than you think.”

Overcoming Challenges Through Persistence

Like many successful professionals, Schmidt’s career has included obstacles.

One challenge he openly discusses is dyslexia. Rather than allowing it to define him, he learned how to adapt and keep moving forward.

He also believes that failure can become one of the best teachers.

“If you fail at a task, stick with it until you accomplish it,” Schmidt says.

That perspective reflects years spent working in demanding professions where persistence often makes the difference between success and failure.

He credits much of his character to his grandfather, William Earl Hudson, who raised him and taught him values that continue to guide his decisions today.

Those lessons shaped his belief that character is built over time through consistent effort.

Military Service Reinforced a Lifetime of Discipline

Schmidt’s commitment to service continued through the Texas State Guard.

His military record includes honors in Basic Operation Training, Officer Candidate School, Officer Basic Course, Direct Commission Officer Course, and Military Emergency Management. He also received multiple Texas Medal of Merit awards, the Texas Meritorious Service Medal, and the Texas State Guard Service Medal.

Rather than viewing those recognitions as personal accomplishments, Schmidt sees them as reminders of responsibility.

Leadership, he believes, is about remaining dependable when others are counting on you.

Edward Schmidt’s Lasting Impact on Healthcare and Emergency Response

Today, Schmidt continues to represent a career built on preparation, education, and service.

His work spans emergency medicine, nursing, instruction, emergency management, and military service, giving him a broad perspective on how different parts of public safety work together.

Outside of work, he enjoys golfing and spending time with his children and friends. Those moments provide balance after years spent in demanding professions.

Looking back, Schmidt measures success differently than many people might expect.

Awards and certifications are meaningful, but they are not the destination.

Instead, he returns to the same principle that has guided him throughout his career.

“Leave a legacy your family can be proud of,” he says.

For Edward Schmidt, leadership has never been about recognition. It has been about serving others, continuing to learn, and helping the next generation succeed. Those values continue to define both his career and the example he hopes to leave behind.

Cochin Shipyard shares fell to Rs 1,336 apiece on Tuesday morning. The stock crashed over 9% on Friday, recording its worst single-day plunge in more than two years. Overall, the stock has fallen more than 12% in just two straight sessions.

The sharp drop in the defence major’s share price was triggered after the company’s management, during an analyst conference call on Thursday, indicated that it is aiming for an EBITDA margin of 14% over the next two financial years, Business Standard reported. This is sharply lower than the 24% EBITDA margin reported for FY26.

Also read |Dividends and stock splits: Hindustan Copper, Cochin Shipyard among 200+ stocks with record dates this week. Check full list

ICICI Direct highlighted that Cochin Shipyard’s management expects FY27 revenue growth to stand at around 12-15%, supported by improving execution across shipbuilding and ship repair, with the company targeting 10 vessel deliveries during the year. The current order book stands at around Rs 22,000 crore, providing strong medium-term revenue visibility, and the order pipeline remains strong across both defence and commercial shipbuilding, the brokerage said.

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It noted that the management expects FY27 operating cash flow to turn positive, supported by higher vessel deliveries and milestone-based collections as execution accelerates, and remains confident of sustaining growth over the medium term, supported by a combination of strong order visibility, improving execution, new shipbuilding capacity and the scaling up of the ship-repair business.
The domestic brokerage has a ‘Hold’ call on the shares of Cochin Shipyard with a target price of Rs 1,590 apiece, implying more than 15% upside potential from the stock’s previous closing price of Rs 1,381 apiece.

Cochin Shipyard and Drydocks World form joint venture

Drydocks World, a DP World company, and Cochin Shipyard last week announced the signing of a joint venture agreement to operate and expand the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) Cochin. The deal builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Drydocks World (DDW) and the Indian defence major during India Maritime Week 2025, under which the two organisations agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in ship repair and allied maritime services

Under the arrangement, the joint venture will operate, consolidate and expand the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) in Cochin, creating additional capacity to service a wider range of vessels and meet the growing requirements of Indian, regional and international customers.

The partnership is expected to strengthen Cochin’s position as a maritime services hub, while creating opportunities across ship repair, engineering, fabrication and associated maritime services in Kerala.

Also read |Cochin Shipyard Ltd and Drydocks World form joint venture to strengthen India’s ship repair industry

Cochin Shipyard share price

Cochin Shipyard shares have fallen around 12% in a week and 10% in a month, overall being down 17% in 2026 so far. The stock has overall fallen more than 25% in one year.

In the longer term, Cochin Shipyard shares have delivered multibagger returns of around 144% in three years and 628% in five years. The company has a market capitalisation of around Rs 35,453 crore.

Disclaimer: This article has been written by Debaroti Adhikary, who is not a SEBI-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Debaroti Adhikary and his/her ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective SEBI-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The Economic Times Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment. Brokerage disclaimers here.