There’s been a noticeable increase the last few days on social media in opposition to the Flock camera system used in Hall County and around the country by many law enforcement agencies.
The spurt in criticism followed last week’s firing and arrest of a Habersham County sheriff’s deputy because of his alleged misuse of the system. Habersham deputy sheriff fired; allegedly misused Flock camera system His was the latest in a series of such recent cases around Georgia. More than a dozen officers in Georgia have now been fired over the summer for similar accusations.
But law enforcement continues to defend them, with two recent arrests of people wanted by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office attributed, in part, to the system. Flock cameras’ role in leading to capture of Hall Co. drive-by suspects, Oakwood couple charged with separate S. Hall thefts; Flock helps track them down Similar reports have come out this summer from sheriff’s offices in Habersham and Barrow counties. In the latter, there have also been reports of destroyed or damaged cameras. The same is true of Albany, Geogia.
Closer to home, Jerry Ramos, who failed in a run for Hall County Sheriff two years ago and has announced plans to run again in 2028, recently released a position paper on electronic license plate readers, declaring that “enough is enough.” If elected, he says he would make some changes but would not eliminate them. Jerry for Sheriff | Facebook
And, 9th District Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-Jackson County), who represents a part of Hall County, announced his opposition to them several weeks ago noting misuse of them in Georgia, posting on X:
“Flock cameras have quietly become one of the most sweeping surveillance systems in American history. And as we’ve seen in Georgia, these devices are ripe for abuse. That’s why I’m fighting to DEFUND Flock cameras.”
Flock has not issued a statement in response to the increasing criticisms.