PASADENA, Texas - A Pasadena police sergeant has resigned from the department while he remained under an active internal investigation, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

The resignation comes as a Pasadena city council member exclusively told KPRC 2 that the sergeant was being investigated for allegedly misusing the department's Flock Safety license plate reader camera system to track a fellow officer.

For months, KPRC 2 has been looking into allegations surrounding Sgt. Michael Palitz after receiving information about an internal investigation. As part of that reporting, KPRC 2 requested Palitz's personnel records, receiving a heavily redacted file, and continued pressing city officials for answers.

A Pasadena city council member exclusively told KPRC 2 that Sergeant Michael Palitz was being investigated for allegedly misusing the department's Flock Safety license plate reader camera system to track a fellow officer. (Pasadena Police Department Facebook)

During a Pasadena Civil Service Commission meeting in June, KPRC 2's Rilwan Balogun spoke with Police Chief M.P. Jackson about the ongoing case after encountering him at the meeting.

When asked whether Palitz had been suspended after KPRC 2 submitted public information requests, Jackson said,  I don't think the two are connected,  but declined to discuss the pending investigation.

 I can't really discuss pending cases,  Jackson said.

When asked if there was anything else he could share, Jackson responded,  No, sir. 

Council member details allegations

Pasadena City Council Member Emmanuel Guerrero told KPRC 2 he believes the investigation centered on allegations that Palitz improperly accessed the city's Flock camera system to monitor another officer.

 Based on what we gathered, [he] was using our camera system, our Flock system, to track and stalk a female officer,  Guerrero said.

When asked to clarify whether he was alleging Palitz was under investigation for misusing the Flock camera system and stalking a fellow officer, Guerrero responded,  correct. 

Guerrero said his understanding is that the system itself flag

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