Documented Incident
UGA police IT employee suspended and demoted after audit finds unauthorized Flock searches
Event: January 1, 2025 · First reported: September 11, 2026 · 3 sources
The University of Georgia Police Department said a civilian IT employee, who has not been publicly identified, was suspended for 20 business days without pay and demoted after an audit found he used the department's Flock license plate reader system without authorization. According to the department, he ran searches twice in 2025 relating to off-campus matters — a hit-and-run involving a relative's vehicle and a theft at a local business. UGAPD said an investigation concluded the conduct was not criminal but violated departmental policy on misuse of a law enforcement database and on notifying the chain of command. The department said it tightened its Flock policies in July and will now conduct monthly search audits.
The case illustrates how broad internal access to ALPR systems can enable personal-use searches, and that such misuse may only surface through auditing. UGA's response — policy changes and monthly audits — offers one model other agencies may be measured against.
Key facts
- Employee was suspended 20 business days without pay and demoted; he has not been named
- Department says he had system access but not permission to use it, and ran two searches in 2025
- UGAPD said the investigation found the conduct was not criminal
- UGAPD said it revised its Flock policies in July and will audit searches monthly
- The department said UGA has spent more than $30 million on automated license plate readers over the past decade
Timeline
- September 11, 2026UGA police IT worker demoted for misusing Flock cameras, school says
- September 11, 2026IT employee disciplined by UGAPD for unauthorized Flock camera use
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- UGA police IT worker demoted for misusing Flock cameras, school says (Atlanta News First, September 11, 2026)
- UGA police IT worker demoted for misusing Flock cameras, school says (WRDW, September 11, 2026)
- IT employee disciplined by UGAPD for unauthorized Flock camera use (The Red & Black, September 11, 2026)
More from Georgia
Everything we have documented in Georgia, or search every Georgia article in the archive.
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 13, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.