ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) —Dougherty County police are taking steps to prevent misuse of Flock cameras amid growing statewide scrutiny of the technology.

The Dougherty County Police Department implemented a formal Flock usage and monitoring policy in August 2026 following statewide concerns.

No intentional misuse found

The department reports finding no intentional misuse or inappropriate activity involving the system. Police Chief Kenneth Johnson recently enacted a policy requiring system audits every 30 days.

Kenneth Johnson said an audit is currently underway, pulling records from January 2026 to the present to ensure a comprehensive review before presenting the findings to the county attorney.

Lt. J.C. Phillips with the Dougherty County Police Department is conducting that audit. Phillips noted that any issues identified through the audit have been administrative in nature, stemming from a lack of training or officers not fully knowing proper logging procedures, rather than misconduct.

“Now, with that being said, can I guarantee that the Flock would never be misused? The answer to that is no. Can’t guarantee that,” Kenneth Johnson said. “If misused, it will be looked into, determine if indeed it was misused, then consequences will follow. Now, that I can guarantee.”

Commissioner cites transparency

Commissioner Clinton Johnson, District 3, said the audit policy is vital so people trust law enforcement to use the technology for its intended use and continue to benefit from it.

“We have to be very, very transparent,” Clinton Johnson said. “And to ensure that we are operating and using our best practices and happy to audit, happy to open our books and show people that, listen, we’re using this technology, but we’re not using it in a way that’s harmful or a way that’s illegal.”

About 10 officers within the department currently have the ability to use the Flock system. The department also shares the system with the Albany Police Department.

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