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Georgia Arrests Top 20 as Logs Reveal Widespread Misuse of Flock License-Plate Searches

Immutable vendor audit records and internal reviews have produced criminal referrals, firings and administrative leaves that are forcing agencies to tighten oversight of plate-data searches.

Overview

  • Statewide criminal actions have grown to at least 20 arrests after audits traced unauthorized queries of Flock Safety’s license-plate database to law enforcement accounts.
  • A July internal audit in Habersham County led to the firing and arrest of Deputy Christian Brewer on felony and misdemeanor charges for using plate data to track a person in his personal life.
  • The Savannah Police Department placed four officers and two civilian employees on administrative leave following a July 27 internal review and referred the cases to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for independent criminal probes.
  • Flock Safety’s immutable search logs and its Audit Assistance tool have been central to detecting misuse because each search records the user, date, time and stated reason, allowing agencies to spot improper activity.
  • The incidents have prompted departments to add regular audits, sparked contract and policy reviews, and intensified debate over whether police should need warrants, tighter rules or external oversight to access ALPR data.