Mayor Livid When Even More Police Are Arrested for Using Flock Database Inappropriately

Three additional police officers have been arrested in Savannah, Georgia after allegedly misusing Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) owned by the surveillance company Flock. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the four individuals targeted were abusing the city's Flock system to track personal acquaintances and family members, as reported by WTOC.

Three of the accused were active police officers, while the fourth was a community service specialist. Two other employees were previously fired for similar violations, though they have not been arrested and the status of ongoing investigations is unclear.

The incident has sparked significant controversy in Savannah, positioning the city as an example of police abuse of AI-powered surveillance technology. Mayor Van Johnson expressed his disappointment and anger, stating that the individuals were entrusted with advanced technology and public trust, and that nobody is above the law or accountable for their actions.

It remains uncertain the specific purpose these four officers had for using the Flock system, but their arrests indicate a serious breach of trust. The Institute for Justice Database of ALPR Abuse notes that over 170 incidents of ALPR misuse have been documented in the United States so far, covering a variety of offenses, from stalking ex-partners to aggressive policing tactics like following individuals across state lines for traffic stops.