ATLANTA, GA — Georgia law enforcement agencies have seen a growing number of arrests tied to alleged misuse of Flock Safety license plate reader data. The latest case involved a DeKalb County sheriff’s sergeant who was fired, arrested and charged after authorities said he improperly accessed the system.
The arrests have raised fresh questions about how much access officers should have to large-scale surveillance databases. Privacy advocates say the pattern shows that tighter limits are needed before more people’s information is exposed.
The Latest Arrest
Late last week, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office officials announced that Sgt. Kabiru Salawu had been terminated and charged over alleged misuse of Flock technology. The agency did not say what data he accessed or why, according to the reporting cited in the source.
Salawu’s case is reported as the 17th arrest of a Georgia law enforcement officer for similar conduct. He faces a misdemeanor charge that carries up to a year in prison and a separate felony count for violating the oath of office, which could bring one to five years behind bars.
Pattern Across Georgia
The arrests have not been limited to one department. USA Today’s reporting cited in the source says earlier cases included five officers in Albany, four in Richmond County, three in Fayetteville, three in Cherokee County, and one in Greene County…