Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to propose citywide Flock camera rules as APD investigates flagged searches, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/atlanta-mayor-andre-dickens-to-propose-citywide-flock-camera-rules-as-apd-investigates-flagged-searches/)
15-09-2026
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is proposing new, permanent citywide regulations governing how city departments use public safety cameras and license plate readers, specifically Flock Safety systems.Key Points of the Report
- Triggered by an Internal Audit: The legislative proposal follows an Atlanta Police Department (APD) audit reviewing 115,578 Flock license plate reader searches conducted throughout the year. Approximately 0.07% of those searches were flagged for further review to assess whether officers violated training guidelines or departmental policies (though APD noted that a flagged search does not automatically mean a violation occurred).
- Ongoing Investigation: Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that the investigation into the flagged searches is expected to conclude within 60 days, after which any disciplinary or administrative penalties will be decided.
- Proposed Rules and Oversight:
- Establishes standardized, written guidelines dictating who may access camera systems, how surveillance data can be collected and shared, and explicit prohibitions on personal, commercial, discriminatory, or unauthorized uses.
- Mandates monthly internal audits for high-risk systems, quarterly public reporting, and annual independent compliance assessments.
- Requires a public inventory of public safety camera technology deployed across the city (excluding sensitive cybersecurity or operational details).
- Enforces city privacy, access, and data-sharing standards into future contracts with technology providers like Flock.
- Immediate Policy Updates by APD: Ahead of council action, APD has already updated its policies by tightening access for outside agencies, instituting monthly audits, restricting retired reserve accounts, and detailing criminal and administrative penalties for misuse.
- Broader Context: The move comes amid heightened scrutiny statewide, with CBS News Atlanta reporting that over 45 Georgia law enforcement officers and officials have resigned, been fired, or been placed under investigation for alleged Flock camera misuse since early August.