ATLANTA, GA — More Georgia law enforcement officers are being accused of misusing Flock Safety license plate reader data, raising fresh concerns about how much access police should have to massive surveillance networks. The latest arrest adds to a growing list that has unfolded over just a few months.
DeKalb County officials said Sgt. Kabiru Salawu was fired and arrested last week on charges tied to alleged misuse of Flock data. Authorities did not say which records were accessed or why, but USA Today reported that the 17-year veteran now faces both a misdemeanor and a felony charge.
Arrests now stretch across several Georgia departments
Salawu’s case was described as the 17th arrest of a Georgia law enforcement officer for similar conduct. Previous cases involved officers in Albany, Richmond County, Fayetteville, Cherokee County and Greene County, according to USA Today.
The number rose again on Wednesday, when a Conyers police supervisor was arrested after allegedly using the system more than 30 times to look up her domestic partner’s car between April and July, according to WRDW/WAGT.
Flock says its own audit tools are catching the misuse
Flock Safety, the Atlanta-based company behind the cameras, says its newer Audit Assistance tool is helping uncover misuse. The company argues the Georgia arrests show that its oversight features are working by separating legitimate searches from improper ones…