A former police officer in the United States has confessed to a shocking breach of trust, admitting he illegally seized and searched the mobile phones of 20 women during routine traffic stops to steal their private nude photographs.
The pattern of abuse during traffic stops
Julian Alcala, 30, was a serving officer with the Florissant Police Department in Missouri when he carried out the offences. Between February 6 and May 18, 2024, while on duty and in uniform, he pulled over women in his marked patrol vehicle.
Alcala took each victim's phone away from them and back to his own patrol car. He told 19 of the women he needed to check their insurance details. He informed the remaining woman he was verifying her vehicle registration. These were mere pretexts.
Without any legal warrant or probable cause, he then rummaged through their personal devices. Using his own phone, he photographed intimate images he found in various folders and apps. The photos depicted the victims or their loved ones in partial or full nudity.
Discovery, resignation, and guilty plea
The scheme unravelled when one victim discovered Alcala had forwarded a private video of her to his own device. This led to a report being made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Alcala resigned from the Florissant Police Department in June 2024 as the investigation got underway. Later, court-approved searches of his personal phone and cloud storage uncovered evidence implicating him with 19 additional victims.
In the U.S. District Court, Alcala pleaded guilty to 20 counts of deprivation of rights under colour of law. This federal charge specifically relates to violating the constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.
Department reaction and sentencing
In November 2024, the Florissant Police Department issued a public statement on Facebook, expressing disgust at the former officer's actions. The statement called his behaviour "a complete betrayal of the values we uphold" and stressed it did not reflect the integrity of their dedicated staff.
The department acknowledged the severe breach of trust and stated that rebuilding community confidence was its top priority.
Alcala's sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2026. Each of the 20 charges carries a potential penalty of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or a combination of both.
