Savannah mayor addresses Flock camera misuse, policy changes

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah Mayor Van Johnson discussed the city’s use of Flock automatic license plate reader cameras, including a policy update following an incident in which employees misused the technology, in an interview with WTOC Anchor Dawn Baker.

Johnson said Flock is a brand name for automatic license plate readers, cameras that capture a vehicle’s make, model, color and license plate. He said the cameras do not have facial recognition and only capture information already visible to the eye. That information is kept in a database for 30 days, according to Johnson.

Use in investigations

Johnson said the technology has been used in a small number of high-profile cases, including murder, aggravated assault and attempted murder investigations, to help make arrests. He said the technology helps establish where a vehicle was at a given time, which he said helps build evidentiary files for court.

Internal misuse investigation

Johnson said an internal audit found six members of the department, four officers and two civilian employees, used Flock auditing equipment in ways inconsistent with policy or police purpose. He said the matter was investigated administratively and criminally, and the six individuals lost their jobs for using the technology for personal purposes.

Johnson said the case was turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and that he believes four individuals were criminally charged. He said the courts will determine the outcome of those cases.

Policy changes

Johnson said the city has tightened its policies following the incident and plans to release a public portal showing how the technology is being used. He said the department disclosed the misuse itself rather than having it reported by an outside investigation or by WTOC.

Johnson said the department turned the investigation over to an independent agency to verify the process.