Chief Farrell defended the department's 182 license plate cameras during a Smyrna town hall meeting. The local police chief addressed resident concerns about hacking, privacy violations, and technology misuse following recent officer arrests across Georgia COBB COUNTY, Ga. – Cobb County Police Chief James Ferrell met with concerned residents Thursday night at a town hall at the Milford Recreation Center in Smyrna to defend the department's use of Flock license-plate cameras amid statewide scrutiny over police misuse. Cobb County police currently lease 182 Flock cameras positioned throughout the area. Ferrell said his department uses the automated license-plate readers to locate missing people and track down criminals. System access is strictly restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and trained analysts, according to the chief. A Flock representative attended the meeting but refused to speak on camera to FOX 5 Atlanta when asked about specific company guardrails. The public meeting follows a wave of trouble across Georgia, where dozens of law enforcement officers have been accused of using Flock technology for illegal purposes. Officers face accusations in Habersham, DeKalb, and Cherokee counties, as well as in Conyers and Albany. Residents packed the Smyrna meeting after learning how the technology tracks vehicle movements. "They can see how we use it, what we do with it, and they can make a judgment of their own on that," Ferrell said regarding public oversight. The…
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