GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County residents pressed police and commissioners Wednesday over the county’s Flock license plate cameras, days after the department announced three officers had been fired and charged for misusing the system.
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“These things will get hacked, not a matter if, will,” one resident said at the town hall hosted by District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden.
Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson reported that Carden addressed the firing of the three officers directly, telling the room the county acted as soon as it found out.
“The abuse of power would not be tolerated in this department,” Carden said. “Their employment was terminated, and they are now facing criminal charges.”
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The Gwinnett County Police Department said Friday that Renee Downer was arrested and charged with simple battery and stalking, Derric Holmes faces six counts of misuse of license plate data and Matthew Lau faces one count. The department has said the investigations remain active.
“It’s interesting to me you guys hide behind the idea of privacy while you take our privacy,” one resident said.
“We are challenging you in the hopes that the county will side with the people who feel like their rights are infringed every time they drive out of their house,” another resident said.
Carden used Wednesday’s meeting to lay out changes the department has made.
Every Flock search now requires a supervisor’s approval and a documented reason. Officers are also going through retraining, and the county cut how long it keeps camera data from 30 days to 15.
Carden said an audit of the system is already underway.
Police say the cameras, which photograph the backs of vehicles, have helped drive a 38% drop in major crime since 2023.
“In law enforcement, we have a responsibility to utilize every tool available to us within law, case law, and policy to try and do right by the victims, to do right by you the community,” Major Jordan Griffin said.
Not everyone in the room was opposed.
“The community needs to understand that the Flock cameras are going to be there because one day you may need them,” one resident said.
The county’s internal audit of Flock is ongoing, and Carden said the findings will be made public once complete.
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