The University of Georgia Police Department has suspended a civilian IT employee without pay for 20 business days and demoted him after his unauthorized use of the Flock Automated License Plate Reader database was discovered during a periodic audit.
The Internal Affairs investigation that immediately followed determined that the employee’s actions were not criminal in nature. It revealed that he accessed the system twice in 2025 to conduct inquiries into off-campus incidents that were also reported to other law enforcement agencies.
According to the university, his searches focused on two separate events in which he had a personal interest: one, a hit-and-run accident in which a family member’s car was struck; and the other, a theft at a local business. Although the IT staff member had access to the database, he did not have permission from his UGAPD supervisor to use it, nor had his assistance been requested by the other law enforcement agencies.
“Our campus community trusts us to be forthright and transparent, and these core values are essential to uphold the integrity of the University of Georgia Police Department,” said UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark. “This staff member’s behavior constitutes a clear violation of departmental policy, particularly regarding misuse of a law enforcement database and failure to notify the chain of command.”
UGAPD says it had already tightened its policies and procedures regarding ALPR usage in July 2026, following reports of misuse at other law enforcement agencies. All internal searches of the ALPR system must be authorized by a supervisor at the level of sergeant or above.
Any requests from agencies outside Athens-Clarke County to access UGA’s ALPR database must also have supervisor approval. These safeguards were implemented after the civilian employee’s unauthorized activities occurred, but before they were discovered.
Going forward, UGAPD will now conduct monthly reviews to ensure that usage adheres to departmental policies and protocols and that the Chief of Police and the Command Staff are fully aware of all searches.
UGAPD has made clear to its sworn officers and civilian employees that, in all instances, they must strictly adhere to the legal guidance developed by lawmakers and the courts when using public safety tools, following established practices and protocols. This is not negotiable. The civilian employee will no longer have access to investigative databases as a result of his demotion.
The University of Georgia deploys ALPRs as one component of a comprehensive safety and security initiative in which the University has invested more than $30 million over the last decade. Other measures include more patrol officers and a Campus Safety Ambassador program, call stations, additional security cameras, an overnight ride share program, enhanced security fencing and lighting upgrades.
“We know our campus community has high expectations for the University of Georgia, not only in how we strive to make our campus safe and secure but also in how we maintain proper oversight and transparency in all we do,” said Dan Silk, associate vice president for public safety. “We are committed to meeting that standard of excellence.”
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- <img src="https://s0.wp.com/_si/?t=eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdGhlZ2VvcmdpYXN1bi5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjVcLzEyXC9mdXR1cmVzdW50cmFuc3BhcmVudC0xLnBuZyIsInR4dCI6IlRoZSBHZW9yZ2lhIFN1biIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiZWRnZSIsImZvbnQiOiIiLCJibG9nX2lkIjoxNDI1MzQ3OTV9.zNSzloH21j-BgUtpsZwtw5uqYhc86teXaj5-m8Slp50MQ" style="width:96px;height:64px;object-fit:cover;border-radius:4px;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:10px;vertical-align:middle;" onerror="this.style.display='none'">Carolyn Bourdeaux – The Georgia Sun
