Lumpkin sheriff shifts tone on Flock cameras after viral backlash

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Credit: Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. - After more than 30,000 comments poured in on his viral defense of Flock Safety cameras, Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard says he has listened to the criticism and now wants Georgia lawmakers to consider stronger safeguards for the technology.

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What we know:

The controversy began after someone destroyed a Flock license plate reader near Yahoola Creek Park. The sheriff's office offered a $1,000 reward for information, and Jarrard posted a video defending the camera as a public safety tool, including its use to alert authorities when registered sex offenders entered the park.

"I hope you're happy with this, it was to keep our kids safe," Jarrard said in the original video. "That's what this is about, and you went and done this."

Sheriff responds to privacy concerns

What they're saying:

Jarrard's original video ultimately received more than 30,000 comments, many raising concerns about privacy, surveillance and how information collected by Flock cameras can be used.

In a new video that has already drawn more than 2,000 comments, Jarrard said he paid particular attention to people who respectfully explained their concerns.

"I have took heed to that and I really, really have paid attention to a lot of the conversations that I've had with people throughout this whole nation," Jarrard said.

He said he is not abandoning his position or immediately ending Lumpkin County's use of the cameras. Instead, he wants lawmakers involved in deciding what safeguards should be required.

"Where does the data go? Who has control of the data?" Jarrard said. "I'm being told what happens with the data, but we need more safeguards in motion."

Jarrard said he plans to contact Georgia legislators and suggested statewide requirements could include policies, procedures and regular training or testing for officers authorized to use the system.

"I'm not against you. I am not that sheriff that draws a line in the sand and says nope, I believe in it and I'm going to do it," he said. "I'm going to listen to you."

Misuse cases add to debate

Dig deeper:

The debate comes amid several cases involving Georgia law enforcement officers accused of improperly using Flock's license plate database.

Five former Albany police officers were arrested after the GBI said an audit found they accessed retained license plate information for non-law-enforcement purposes. A former Dallas Police Department 911 director was also arrested in a misuse investigation.

Three Coweta County sheriff's employees resigned amid a Flock review, and a Habersham County deputy was fired and arrested after investigators said he used the system to track someone with whom he had a personal relationship.

Flock has since announced additional safeguards, including requiring searches to be associated with case codes, expanded auditing to flag abnormal searches and reducing its default license plate data retention period from 30 days to seven days.

Jarrard said those cases demonstrate why clearer standards are needed.

"Until we can get that under control, then it's going to continue having problems," he said.