Two Peachtree City police officers are no longer with the department after an internal audit of the city's Flock Safety camera system caught them misusing the technology in two separate incidents. Neither officer remains employed with the department, and both cases have been referred to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for independent criminal review.
The Peachtree City Police Department conducted the audit itself and identified each officer involved, according to WSB-TV. The two incidents were flagged independently and separately, and the department referred each matter to the GBI for an independent criminal investigation, per its own statement. The GBI has confirmed an investigation is underway but would not share details of who is under investigation.
A Statewide Pattern Emerges Through Audits
Peachtree City's cases land amid a much larger wave of Flock-related misconduct findings across Georgia. Reporting has mentioned personnel from at least 17 Georgia agencies in connection with Flock-related misconduct cases.
The technological catalyst behind these discoveries traces back to Flock Safety's own product changes. The Atlanta-headquartered company launched AI-powered “Audit Assistance” software in April 2026, designed to automatically flag anomalous search patterns such as repeated queries on a single plate or searches conducted while an officer is off duty, according to a company release distributed via GlobeNewswire. The company has said the tool will become mandatory for all law enforcement clients by the end of 2026.
Other Metro Atlanta Departments Hit by Similar Findings
Peachtree City is far from alone. In Gwinnett County, officers were fired and arrested this month after internal audits using Flock's automated tool revealed unauthorized lookups following a domestic stalking complaint against an officer, a case Hoodline covered in officers fired over Flock misuse. In Albany, five former Albany officers were fired and charged after an internal audit revealed multiple unauthorized accesses and serious policy violations, according to Police1.
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch offered a pointed critique of the vendor after an audit in his own county led to seven resignations or terminations. Couch told CBS News that Flock Safety “failed from the beginning” by not building in auditing guardrails when it deployed its system to agencies. Hall County's audit reviewed 758 individual searches and flagged 85 as suspicious, the outlet reported.
What Georgia Law Says About Misuse
Unauthorized access to license plate reader data is not merely a policy violation in Georgia — it carries defined legal consequences. Under Georgia Code § 35-1-22, enacted in 2018, automated license plate reader data may only be accessed for legitimate law enforcement purposes, and unauthorized searches constitute a high-and-aggravated misdemeanor carrying up to a $5,000 fine and 12 months in county lockup, according to Justia Law.
Database misuse by sworn officers can also raise questions about potential criminal liability.
Transparency Questions Linger in Fayette County
Local reporting from Fayette County outlet The Citizen covered Peachtree City police's Flock misuse and the GBI referral. Peachtree City police have noted that prior to 2026, the department's system data review structures made comprehensive user audits difficult.
Separately, concerns about ALPR database abuse include the risk of unauthorized searches and personal surveillance. Civil liberties advocates argue that warrantless mass surveillance systems carry an inherent risk of officer abuse, a concern echoed as Flock introduced optional case codes in July, said it would require them by year-end, and recommended seven-day data retention, according to Newsweek.
