MCDONOUGH, Ga. — A new audit of McDonough Police Department’s use of Flock license plate reader technology found no policy violations, but the department is still tightening safeguards to prevent potential misuse.
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From January through July of this year, Flock’s auditing system flagged 32 license plate searches conducted by McDonough officers.
Police Chief Ken Noble said the department reviewed each search to determine whether it was connected to legitimate law enforcement activity. According to the department, all 32 searches complied with McDonough Police policy.
“We took a deeper dive into it to ensure that we are utilizing the technology appropriately,” Noble said.
The review comes as law enforcement agencies across Georgia and the country have faced allegations of abusing Flock technology by tracking people who were not under criminal investigation.
Noble said he has watched reports of misuse elsewhere and wants to ensure it does not happen in McDonough.
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“To ensure that officers are trained appropriately, utilizing the system the way that it should be done, not so much as on a personal level,” Noble said.
As a result, the department has updated its policy and added several safeguards.
Officers are now required to enter a case number with each search. They also must complete training before they are allowed to use the system.
The department will conduct weekly reviews of license plate searches and provide written quarterly reports to the chief, Noble said.
The oversight is intended to increase accountability and ensure the technology is used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
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