GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Hall County Sheriff’s Office fired an investigator last week after an internal investigation found he used the agency’s Flock camera system to conduct unauthorized searches for personal purposes.
Former investigator Justin Brown was terminated Aug. 19 after investigators determined he conducted a series of searches that violated agency policy, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation found Brown used the Flock system to search at least two license plate numbers without a legitimate law enforcement purpose.
The activity was discovered during a self-initiated audit of the agency’s use of the Flock system, according to HCSO.
Although Brown was terminated for violating agency policy, the Sheriff’s Office has referred the matter to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for a criminal investigation.
Brown had worked for HCSO since December 2022.
“This action is an embarrassment to our agency,” HCSO Criminal Investigations Bureau Maj. Brad Parks said. “We fully understand these choices increase mistrust when it comes to Flock use.”
Parks said the camera system remains an important law enforcement tool, pointing to its role in helping authorities apprehend suspects, including recent murder suspect Antwane Thurmond.
“We are committed only to its proper use for legitimate law enforcement purposes,” Parks said.
The Sheriff’s Office said it is continuing to audit its Flock system and how agency personnel have used it.
Questions regarding the criminal investigation have been referred to the GBI.
