Five former Albany Police Department officers face criminal charges after investigators said they used the city’s Flock Safety license plate reader system to search vehicle-location data for reasons unrelated to law enforcement.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced July 6 that Tytianna Davis, Jade Jackson, Nicholas Richardson, Brittney Smith and Issac Whitus were arrested and booked into the Dougherty County Jail. Richardson faces 11 counts of misuse of license plate data; Davis faces five; Jackson and Whitus face two each; and Smith faces one. Each faces one count of violation of oath of office.
Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said an upgraded audit system flagged searches outside normal parameters. The officers allegedly entered plate numbers to determine where people they personally knew had been, Persley told WALB. None of the searches was connected to an active investigation or call for service, he said.
Persley said the searches compromised the privacy of those involved and damaged public trust in law enforcement’s use of the technology.
Georgia law permits law enforcement agencies to collect license plate data but bars access except for a law enforcement purpose. Knowingly obtaining or using the information under false pretenses or for another purpose is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature upon conviction.
Albany police requested the state investigation June 25 after an internal audit uncovered the alleged activity. All five officers are no longer employed by the department, which plans weekly audits and additional license plate reader training for incoming officers.
The GBI said its investigation remains active and will send the completed case file to the Dougherty Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review. The charges are allegations and have not been adjudicated.
