Savannah PD investigator testifies to earlier Flock misuse handled internally, without GBI

Event: September 21, 2026 · First reported: September 21, 2026 · 1 source

At a Sept. 21, 2026 Civil Service Board hearing on former Savannah Police Cpl. Matthew Rich's appeal of his termination, an internal investigator testified that Flock license plate reader misuse had occurred within the department previously and was handled internally without referral to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Two additional misuse cases predating the four previously reported were disclosed; one officer was fired for aggravated stalking and another received a verbal warning for what the department called a paperwork error. SPD's training unit commander testified the department has no dedicated Flock policy or training because the system is a vendor product. Rich, 39, admitted to six illegal plate queries, two involving his wife and four involving one of her coworkers.

Why this matters

The testimony indicates that a department using ALPR technology lacked formal training, a written policy, and a disciplinary framework for misuse, and resolved earlier incidents internally rather than referring them to outside investigators — raising questions other communities may ask about how ALPR access is governed and audited.

Key facts

Rich was charged with two counts of misuse of a license plate reader system and one count of violation of oath of office; he is one of four SPD employees arrested. Charges are allegations and the cases have not been resolved.
The other arrested employees are Marquis Dillard, 48, Donald Phillips, 23, and Calandic Thomas, 34; Thomas faces two misuse counts without an oath-of-office charge.
SPD witnesses testified the department has no formal Flock training, no dedicated Flock policy, and no official misuse disciplinary chart.
Assistant city attorney Denise Cooper disputed characterizations of the firing as politically motivated.
The Civil Service Board recommendation is expected in seven to 10 business days, with the city manager making the final decision; another misuse case is set for Oct. 13.

Sources

This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.

Internal investigator confirms past Flock misuse within Savannah Police Department (WTOC, September 21, 2026)

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About this record

BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.

Updated September 23, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.