BIBB COUNTY, Ga. — Three former Georgia deputies are facing criminal charges after an internal audit allegedly uncovered misuse of the agency’s Flock camera system.
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According to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, an internal audit conducted with assistance from Flock revealed that three deputies accessed the camera system and allegedly used license plate data for personal, non-law enforcement purposes.
Investigators said the incidents were separate and involved individuals with whom each deputy had a personal relationship at the time.
Authorities arrested Coznavian Stubbs, Joseph Callaway and Toni Lewis on Aug. 10. All three were booked into the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Callaway was charged with violation of oath by a public officer, unauthorized request or disclosure of criminal history record information, prohibition on law enforcement retaining license plate data, and three counts of stalking.
Stubbs was charged with violation of oath by a public officer, prohibition on law enforcement retaining license plate data and one count of stalking.
Lewis was charged with violation of oath by a public officer, prohibition on law enforcement retaining license plate data and stalking.
The sheriff’s office said Stubbs and Lewis resigned from their positions as patrol deputies during the investigation. Callaway resigned from his position as a K-9 deputy shortly after his arrest.
Sheriff David Davis addressed the allegations in a statement:
“The public entrusts law enforcement with access to powerful technology and sensitive information, and with that trust comes an absolute responsibility to use those resources only for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Once notified by Flock of possible irregularities, our internal audit identified this alleged misuse of the Flock system, and once it was discovered, we acted.
Flock technology can be a valuable tool in solving crimes and protecting our community, but no law enforcement tool should ever be used for personal purposes or in a manner that could infringe upon the privacy or constitutional rights of the citizens we serve. We have safeguards and auditing procedures in place for exactly this reason.
No employee is above the law or the standards of this office. We will continue to monitor and audit the use of this technology and take appropriate action whenever those standards are violated. Protecting the public also means protecting the public’s trust.”
The sheriff’s office said the cases remain under investigation. Anyone with information related to the incidents is encouraged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
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