SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – After six Savannah Police Department employees were fired for misusing Flock camera technology, city leaders and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are pushing for changes to how the system is monitored and governed. Four officers and two civilian employees had been placed on administrative leave after SPD’s internal investigation began July 27. Investigators found employees were running searches on personal acquaintances and family members. One employee gave someone outside of law enforcement access to SPD’s Flock system. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is continuing its investigation. Savannah District 6 Alderman Kurtis Purtee is a policeman and member of the Georgia Municipal Association. When asked how easy it is for an officer to look up a plate or create a “hot list” without a case file, Purtee said: “It’s pretty easy.” He said stricter controls are needed going forward. “I think frequent audits, I think stringent policy and procedure from both the city and the police department is going to be key in this,” Purtee said. Christopher Bruce, deputy executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, said surveillance technology will only expand. “This is not going away. If anything, surveillance technology is going to get wider, bigger, and in different ways,” Bruce said. The ACLU has introduced an ordinance called CCOPS — Community Control of Police Surveillance — which has been implemented in 26 municipalities. Bruce said those cities have…
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