ATLANTA — Local law enforcement and civil rights groups are weighing in as reports of misuse involving Flock Safety cameras continue to rise around metro Atlanta.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia says communities should have a voice before video cameras and license plate readers are installed.

“I think the abuses that have been done by certain police officers has really raised the ire of what’s happening,” ACLU Executive Director Christopher Bruce said.

Bruce says local leaders and residents should have input on the use of the surveillance technology.

“Let the community know how they are being surveilled,” Bruce said.

The Georgia Fraternal Order of Police says officers are now required to provide both a case number and a reason before accessing images through the Flock system.

“You can’t just run people just because you want to run them. It has to be a legitimate law enforcement reason,” Georgia Fraternal Order of Police representative Steve Gaynor said.

Gaynor also says Flock cameras do not use facial recognition technology.

“It doesn’t know anything about the driver or that car. It only knows this car with this tag number passed this location at this particular time,” Gaynor said.

Bruce says misidentifying suspects can have serious consequences and continues to call for community input before cameras and license plate readers are installed.

In Polk County, GBI officials say 51-year old Tracey Royston was accused of misusing license plate readers. Officials say Royston worked for the Polk County Police Department and was previously part of the Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, which is managed by the GBI.

Officials say preliminary information indicates Royston accessed the Cedartown Police Department’s Flock Safety System multiple times between 2024 and 2025 for non-law enforcement purposes.

She faces four misdemeanor charges.

WSB Radio’s MaryRyan Howarth contributed to this story.