Florida detective is fired for 'using Flock license plate tracker 47 TIMES to snoop on her husband's ex-wife': Now her jaw-dropping excuse and shameless next move are revealed

By GREG WOODFIELD, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 20:44, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 20:44, 3 August 2026 A Florida detective has been fired after allegedly abusing a restricted license plate tracking system 47 times in just three months to snoop on her new husband's ex-wife, the Daily Mail can reveal. Brandy Almany, 40, is accused of improperly accessing the controversial Flock automated license plate reader - a law enforcement tool intended for legitimate investigations - to monitor the 'whereabouts and routine habits' of university administrator Rena Rolfsen, amid bitter post-divorce legal battles involving her new man.  The former investigator with Sumter County Sheriff's Office allegedly used existing case numbers to hide her searches in the camera-led database which records vehicle movements and has become the focus of fierce opposition from civil liberties groups, who warn it enables warrantless surveillance.  Almany was arrested on July 23 on four charges of misconduct regarding the automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and two other databases.  Sheriff Patrick Breeden subsequently temporarily suspended his office's use of the widespread Flock version of the devices pending further investigations. Almany, who had previously been divorced, married 42-year-old Jake Ross Thomas in Ocala, Florida on February 2, 2025, and they set up home in Crystal Springs on the Gulf Coast. But Thomas is still involved in bitter legal battles with 43-year-old ex-wife Rolfsen, who was granted a divorce in 2021 after petitioning two years earlier. They are mainly over finances and the custody and care of their two children aged 11 and 16. So far there are 576 separate filings in Marion County Court with the latest in June this year. Brandy Almany (left), a detective with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, is accused of improperly using the license plate reader to monitor the movements of Rena Rolfsen (right) her new husband's ex-wife  Jake Ross Thomas, 42, shares two children with his 43-year-old ex-wife, Rena Rolfsen, pictured here. Rolfsen was granted a divorce in 2021 after petitioning two years earlier According to Almany's arrest warrant, obtained by the Daily Mail, she 'admitted' to accessing the Flock system to 'assist her husband by determining Ms Rolfsen's routine, habits and whereabouts' in order to help serve documents on the ex-wife. 'During the interview, Detective Almany admitted that she personally conducted the forty-seven (47) ALPR searches involving Rena Rolfsen's license plate,' it said. When questioned, she admitted she knew the searches were 'improper' and the reason she gave was: 'Because I'm stupid.' The warrant stated: 'The Flock audit records established each inquiry was performed utilizing Detective Almany's computer assigned to her while working in the Criminal Investigation Division and while logged into the Sheriff's Office network using Detective Almany's unique user credentials. 'Detective Almany admitted the searches were not related to any Sumter County Sheriff's Office criminal investigation.' Almany is also accused of using the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database and the Florida Courts Comprehensive Case Information System 'to obtain information' on Rolfsen. 'Specifically, Detective Almany utilized these systems to obtain Ms Rolfsen's residential address information, vehicle registration information and court records, as well as other personally identifying information,' added the warrant. Tattooed Almany was reluctant to talk at her Crystal Springs home when approached by the Daily Mail.  Almany, who had previously been divorced, married 42-year-old Jake Ross Thomas in Ocala, Florida on February 2, 2025 Thomas and Rolfsen (pictured together) are still embroiled in bitter legal battles - mainly over finances and the custody and care of their two children aged 11 and 16 Looking anxious and with her hair scraped back, she said 'have a nice day' and shut her front door after being asked for a comment. Her husband, who has had a lawn care business according to his divorce documents, said 'I'd rather not comment' when contacted. Rolfsen, associate director at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, also said: 'I have no comment at this time.' Meanwhile, Almany has been busy trying to find a new job within days of her firing – still within the legal world. Her status on business social media site LinkedIn says she's now 'open to work' and describes herself as an 'experienced professional transitioning into administrative work'. 'I am exploring new career opportunities and would appreciate support and guidance from my network,' she writes. 'If you come across any openings, please feel free to send me a message or comment below. 'I am particularly interested in administrative office positions or roles as a legal assistant or paralegal at a criminal defense law firm.' The fired cop served as a road patrol officer for the local police department in Wildwood, Florida – just west of America's biggest retirement community, The Villages – from 2014 to 2019. Almany then joined the sheriff's office where she was a detective and trainer, saying she 'progressed through multiple roles requiring advanced organization, communication, documentation, research and case management.' Almany was arrested on July 23 and charged with four counts of official misconduct over the alleged misuse of the Flock license plate reader system and two other law enforcement databases  The detective allegedly admitted to accessing the system to help Thomas (right) determine his Rolfsen's (left) 'routine, habits and whereabouts' so he could try and serve documents on his ex-wife Flock Saftey automated license plate readers (seen on a street pole in New Jersey) are designed to help officers locate suspects, stolen vehicles, and missing people, and access is restricted to investigative purposes  She also says she 'managed complex and confidential matters' and was 'recognized for her sound judgment, discretion' and 'problem solving, attention to detail.' Almany's profile adds that she has a bachelor's degree in cognitive psychology from the private Catholic Saint Leo University in Florida, ironically where Rolfsen was a director until September 2025. During her time at the sheriff's office, she also worked part-time as an adjunct instructor at College of Central Florida teaching recruits 'standards' to prepare them for the exam to qualify them as cops. After her firing, Sheriff Breeden said: 'I had to arrest one of my own for misuse of multiple law enforcement databases. 'It is difficult to express my extreme disappointment in the actions this detective chose to take… this detective has been both terminated and arrested. 'While I do believe these systems are a valuable tool for law enforcement, due to these circumstances, I have ordered a complete internal audit of all the databases and I have suspended the use of Flock.'  Almany's arrest comes amid growing outcry over the capability of ALPRs as a possible nationwide surveillance system, tracking Americans' everyday lives without them being aware of it. It also follows the case of a cop in Wisconsin who used the system to track his ex-girlfriend and was sentenced to 12 months probation on July 15. Former Milwaukee PD officer Josue Ayala searched for the license plates of his former girlfriend and her ex 179 times on Flock. The investigation started after one of his victims searched their plate on the Have I Been Flocked website. More than 97,000 Flock readers have been installed across the US  In Greer, South Carolina, two cops were fired in June accused of using Flock for private snooping. Corporal Kareem Lynch searched tags of an officer he had been in a relationship with multiple times, according to documents obtained by the Greenville News. Sebastian Echeverry also used Flock to search multiple people. Investigators allege he falsely entered 'Alcohol Offense Non-DUI' as the reason. Neither former officer is facing criminal charges. More than 117,000 ALPR roadside cameras are scattered across the nation. They photograph passing vehicles and record license plates and time of travel, allowing separate sightings to be pieced together into a detailed journey. Police say the technology helps locate stolen vehicles and criminal suspects. Civil liberty groups insist innocent drivers can also be swept into the system and their movements analyzed without officers obtaining a warrant. Cameras made by Georgia company Flock Safety account for 97,077 of all documented devices, according to mapping by DeFlock, a crowd-sourced project highlighting 'the dangers of ALPRs.' California has the most ALPRs, with 16,000, followed by Florida (7,169), Georgia (7,046) and Illinois (5,822). Flock Safety devices are among the most advanced cameras available.  Founder Garrett Langley has said: 'I take nothing more seriously than the values we built this company upon, to give cities tools to uphold public safety, while enabling accountability and transparency. 'Public safety does not need to come at the expense of community values.'