Savannah Police Flock camera investigation
The Savannah Police Department fired six former employees, four of them officers, and now they're under criminal investigation for allegedly misusing Flock cameras. The accusation is that they ran personal searches involving family and acquaintances through the system. Flock's cameras are AI-powered license plate readers that store data for police, and there are over 120,000 of them across the country. Misuse isn't new. Dozens of officers have been charged or accused of using the tech inappropriately, including for stalking. A North Carolina officer was arrested for allegedly tracking her boyfriend's ex-wife more than 30 times. Critics call the cameras an invasion of privacy, and some have been vandalized. In Texas, a camera was cut in half. In Minnesota, someone posted videos covering them with tape. Flock says their cameras helped in over a million crimes and over 10,000 missing people last year, and that criminal acts like vandalism should never be the answer. The report aired on WJCL ABC News on Aug. 9, 2026.
Transcript (en)
This morning, six former Savannah Police Department employees, including four officers, are now under criminal investigation after being fired for allegedly misusing these controversial surveillance cameras made by the company Flock. Totally honest. I'm disappointed. I'm pissed off about it. The employees allegedly using the system to make personal searches involving family and acquaintances. The high-tech, AI-powered cameras read license plates and store that data for police departments to use. Over 120,000 deployed nationwide to help fight crime. They're on streetlights, bridges, and highways. But backlash is growing amid rising reports of misuse. Dozens of officers now charged or accused of using the technology inappropriately, including stalking. This North Carolina police officer arrested for allegedly using it to track her boyfriend's ex-wife more than 30 times. She's set to appear in court at the end of the month. That's what bothers me the most, that the people that use this stuff are personal gain. Critics also calling these cameras an invasion of privacy. Some are being vandalized in acts of protest. In Texas, this camera cut in half. And in Minnesota, a man posting these videos of himself covering up the cameras with tape, telling ABC the technology is dangerous. But Flock telling ABC News their cameras do exactly what they're supposed to do. We helped in over a million crimes last year, over 10,000 missing people. And some agree. The benefits, I believe, outweigh the issues here. And Flock saying that criminal acts like vandalism should never be the answer here as people continue to make their voices heard in this ever-present debate about individual privacy versus public safety.
