A Flock camera (FOX 5)
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Three former Savannah police officers and a former civilian staff member have been arrested and charged after an internal audit revealed they misused the city's license plate reader system for non-law enforcement purposes, authorities said.
Flock camera misuse accusations
What we know:
On Friday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested four former Savannah Police Department employees:
- Marquis Dillard, 48, of Savannah
- Donald Phillips, 23, of Fleming
- Matthew Rich, 39, of Savannah
- Calandic Thomas, 34, of Pooler
Dillard, Phillips and Rich are all facing two counts of misuse of a license plate reader system and one count of violation of oath of office, the GBI said.
Thomas is facing just two counts of misuse of a license plate reader system, authorities added.
Internal audit leads to investigation
At the time of the alleged offenses, Dillard, Phillips, and Rich served as sworn police officers, while Thomas worked as a community service specialist, GBI agents added.
According to state investigators, on July 29, the department requested the GBI to investigate after an internal audit of the department's Flock camera system showed the individuals used the system for non-law enforcement purposes.
Authorities dismissed all four individuals involved, and they were booked into the Chatham County Jail.
The GBI will investigate the case. Once its investigation is finished, it will be turned over to the Eastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Police chief, mayor statements
What they're saying:
Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther expressed sharp disappointment over the arrests, emphasizing that misconduct within the department will not be tolerated.
"I expect all members of the Savannah Police Department, whether sworn or civilian, to act with integrity, professionalism, and respect for the law... There is no excuse for breaking that trust," he said.
Mayor Van Johnson addressed the city following the arrests, calling the breach of public trust a sobering moment for the community.
"This is a sad and sobering day for our city... Our promise remains strong: nobody is above the law, and everyone trusted with public confidence is accountable," Johnson said.
Recent law enforcement arrests in Georgia
Dig deeper:
Dozens of officers across Georgia, along with others nationwide, have been accused of improperly using the technology, including allegations that officers used it to track romantic partners.
This has led the network to face increasing scrutiny over privacy and how law enforcement agencies use the data. Authorities say the technology helps investigators locate stolen vehicles, identify suspects and solve crimes.
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What we don't know:
Authorities have not detailed what specific vehicles or individuals the former employees were tracking on the Flock camera system.
The GBI has not disclosed how long the system was being misused before the internal audit flagged the activity.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Statesboro at (912) 871-1121.
The Source: The information in this story came from a news release from the Savannah Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and previous FOX 5 reports.