The Savannah Police Department fired four officers and two civilian employees after an internal audit found they ran personal searches in the Flock Safety license-plate reader system. Each case is also part of a separate criminal investigation being handled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The misuse was detected via automatic logs and the Flock Safety Audit Assistance program; Savannah PD has begun weekly audits and other oversight measures to prevent future abuse. Privacy advocates warn that automated plate-reader systems can be easily misused without strong transparency and controls.
Savannah Police Dismiss Six After Audit Finds Personal Use Of License-Plate Reader System
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The Savannah Police Department has dismissed six employees after an internal audit found they used the department's Flock Safety license-plate reader system to run personal searches on relatives and acquaintances rather than for legitimate law-enforcement purposes.
WTOC reported that the disciplinary actions included the termination of four sworn officers and two civilian staff. Each case is also part of a separate criminal investigation being handled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
The misuse was uncovered during a proactive review of Flock Safety activity that flagged searches with no obvious connection to official police duties. Savannah PD said its administrative inquiry concluded the employees violated department policies governing authorized use of the technology.
How the Misuse Was Detected
Officials noted that every lookup in the Flock Safety platform is recorded automatically. The department said the misuse was detected through routine auditing processes and the Flock Safety Audit Assistance program, which became available in April. In one instance, an officer reportedly gave unauthorized access to someone at another law-enforcement agency.
Privacy Concerns and Oversight Steps
License-plate readers are promoted as tools to help solve crimes, locate stolen vehicles and enhance public safety, but they also raise significant privacy concerns. Most drivers have no practical way to know when their vehicle data is queried, who is running searches or whether the reasons are legitimate. Flock Safety's technology has previously been tied to privacy debates and wrongful arrests, and the risk of internal misuse compounds those worries.
In response to the audit, Savannah PD said it has completed its internal review and implemented new oversight measures. The department's Office of Professional Standards began conducting weekly audits of Flock Safety usage to strengthen controls and deter improper access. Automatic logs, independent reviews and routine checks are intended to make it harder for staff to treat a public-safety tool as a private search engine.
The GBI's criminal probe is ongoing. Savannah PD reiterated that misuse will be met with administrative discipline and, when appropriate, criminal referral.
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