News report citing court proceedings and police investigation
Michael McSherry
Authorities’ allegations and reported case history are preserved alongside source provenance.
PA-FRAZER-MCSHERRY-2021-09-28
Michael McSherry
Police and court reporting said McSherry used law-enforcement license-plate-reader technology to track his estranged wife and members of her family for personal purposes. Investigators found hundreds of plate-reader reports, including repeated searches while he was off duty. The Washington Post later confirmed the system was a competitor to Flock, but the exact vendor was not identified in the public sources reviewed. New reporting adds that McSherry searched his estranged wife's plate 283 times, sometimes 12–15 times in a single day, and searched her mother's plate 85 times.
1 linked source
Last verified August 25, 2026
//Person
Name
Michael McSherry
Role title
Police Officer
Role type
Law enforcement
Agency
Frazer Township Police Department
City
Frazer Township
County
Allegheny
State
Pennsylvania
//Current status
Status
Pleaded Guilty / Sentenced
Employment outcome
Separated from Frazer Township / Suspended from Kiskiminetas Township
Arrest date
September 18, 2021
Jail
Westmoreland County Jail
Case-status notes
McSherry pleaded guilty December 15, 2021 to official oppression and stalking and was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in jail plus probation. Sources also describe use of a GPS tracker and compromised home camera. Vendor is intentionally left unverified rather than inferred.
//Alleged conduct and technology
Why this case is in the database
Police and court reporting said McSherry used law-enforcement license-plate-reader technology to track his estranged wife and members of her family for personal purposes. Investigators found hundreds of plate-reader reports, including repeated searches while he was off duty. The Washington Post later confirmed the system was a competitor to Flock, but the exact vendor was not identified in the public sources reviewed. New reporting adds that McSherry searched his estranged wife's plate 283 times, sometimes 12–15 times in a single day, and searched her mother's plate 85 times.
Technology type
Other; Automated License Plate Reader
Reported vendor
Not publicly verified
Vendor note
Non-Flock ALPR competitor — exact vendor not verified
Reported product
Unknown
Misuse start
2021-03
Misuse end
2021-09
Known alleged search count
368
Known duration
6.1 months
Estranged spouseMulti-system surveillanceNon-law-enforcement useStalkingTracking
//Discovery and investigation
Discovery method
Victim complaint / Domestic disturbance investigation / Police audit
Investigating agency
Allegheny Township Police Department / Westmoreland County authorities
Known charge count
Unknown
Charges
Initial charges included Unlawful Use of a Computer, Official Oppression, Stalking, Terroristic Threats and other offenses; pleaded guilty to Official Oppression and Stalking
//Timeline
Charges updated
Initial charges included Unlawful Use of a Computer, Official Oppression, Stalking, Terroristic Threats and other offenses; pleaded guilty to Official Oppression and Stalking
Victim complaint / Domestic disturbance investigation / Police audit
McSherry pleaded guilty December 15, 2021 to official oppression and stalking and was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in jail plus probation. Sources also describe use of a GPS tracker and compromised home camera. Vendor is intentionally left unverified rather than inferred.
Suspended
McSherry pleaded guilty December 15, 2021 to official oppression and stalking and was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in jail plus probation. Sources also describe use of a GPS tracker and compromised home camera. Vendor is intentionally left unverified rather than inferred.
Pleaded guilty
McSherry pleaded guilty December 15, 2021 to official oppression and stalking and was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in jail plus probation. Sources also describe use of a GPS tracker and compromised home camera. Vendor is intentionally left unverified rather than inferred.
Arrested / Charged
McSherry pleaded guilty December 15, 2021 to official oppression and stalking and was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in jail plus probation. Sources also describe use of a GPS tracker and compromised home camera. Vendor is intentionally left unverified rather than inferred.