The Gwinnett County Police Department in Georgia has fired three officers and filed criminal charges against them over alleged misuse of the department's Flock Safety automated license plate reader system. The department announced the firings and charges in a press release dated September 4, 2026.
Renee Downer was arrested and charged in May with simple battery and stalking, and was relieved from duty while the department reviewed the case. She has since been fired. Derric Holmes was charged with six counts of misuse of license plate data. Matthew Lau was charged with one count of misuse of license plate data. The department said the investigation into the former officers remains open and that more charges could follow.
Flock Group Inc., which does business as Flock Safety, is headquartered on Northside Parkway in Atlanta and supplies the camera network and search software that Gwinnett officers used. In June 2026 the department gained access to a new Flock auditing system that expands its ability to review search activity and identify usage requiring further examination.
Gwinnett police said they have put in place changes covering access, training and policy for the system. Officers must now submit a justification to a direct supervisor, who evaluates the request and runs the search when appropriate. The department has also required officers to undergo retraining on the system. Atlanta News First reported that just under 50 incidents involving license plate data have been disclosed or uncovered across Georgia, with just under 30 of those in the metro Atlanta area.
Source: Atlanta News First - https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/09/05/3-gwinnett-police-officers-fired-charged-alleged-flock-camera-misuse/