A former Covington Police Department officer has been arrested after investigatorsaccused him of accessing a police license plate reader system for anon-law enforcement purpose.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that Michael Canty, 29, of Covington, was arrested Aug. 26 and charged with misuse of a license plate reader system and violation of oath of office.
Here's what to know.
What investigators say happened
The Covington Police Department asked the GBI to investigate on Aug. 6 after allegations surfaced involving the department's Flock Safety license plate reader system.
According to the GBI, preliminary information indicates Canty accessed the system for a purpose unrelated to law enforcement.
The GBI did not provide additional details about what information
was accessed or how the system allegedly was misused.
Canty is no longer with the department
Canty is a former Covington Police Department officer. Following his Aug. 26 arrest, he was booked into the Newton County Jail.
The GBI said the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Once investigators finish their work, the case will be turned over to the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
How to share information with investigators
Anyone with information about the investigation can contact the GBI Tipline at 800-597-TIPS (8477), submit information online through the GBI, or use the See Something, Send Something mobile application.
How Flock cameras work
Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based public safety technology company, develops the cameras used in communities across the country.
When a vehicle passes a camera, the system captures an image and converts details about the vehicle into searchable data.
Law enforcement agencies can then use that information during investigations, such as locating stolen vehicles or identifying vehicles connected to reported crimes.
Flock says the cameras are designed to focus on vehicles involved in incidents and do not use facial recognition technology, according to Business Insider.
The company also says vehicle records are automatically deleted after 30 days by default, though customers can adjust retention settings based on contracts and local regulations.
Flock cameras are expanding across Georgia
Flock Safety was founded in Atlanta in 2017 and has grown into one of the largest providers of license plate reader technology in the country.
The company says its cameras have been installed in thousands of communities nationwide, including systems operated by police departments, neighborhoods, businesses, and other private groups.
Across Georgia, communities have adopted the technology as a way to help investigators gather information after crimes are reported.
Privacy concerns surround the technology
While law enforcement agencies say Flock cameras can help solve crimes, privacy advocates have raised concerns about how much information is collected and how the data can be used.
Civil liberties groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union, have questioned whether widespread networks of license plate readers could be used to track people’s travel patterns.
Flock Safety says its customers own their data and control who can access, search, and share it, as well as how long the information is retained.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Former Georgia officer arrested over alleged Flock system misuse
