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DeKalb County sergeant misused Flock license-plate system for unauthorized, non-job-related purpose; fired and arrested

The DeKalb County (Georgia) Sheriff's Office fired and arrested Sgt. Kabiru Salawu on July 17, 2026, after an internal investigation found he had made unauthorized, non-job-related use of the department's Flock Safety license-plate-reader system. Salawu, who had worked for the agency since August 24, 2009, was booked into the DeKalb County Jail without bond on a felony count of violation of oath of office and a misdemeanor count of misuse of license plate data.

Part of: Police Using License-Plate Camera Networks to Stalk

Jurisdiction
Georgia
Location
Decatur, Georgia

Abuses documented

Actors

  • Kabiru Salawu (Sergeant, DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)

On July 17, 2026, the DeKalb County (Georgia) Sheriff's Office fired and arrested Sgt. Kabiru Salawu after an internal investigation found he had made unauthorized, non-job-related use of the department's Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader system, a network used by law enforcement to track and monitor vehicle movements. Salawu had been continuously employed by the agency since August 24, 2009. [1]

Salawu was booked into the DeKalb County Jail without bond on a felony count of violation of oath of office and a misdemeanor count of misuse of license plate data. Sheriff Melody M. Maddox addressed the arrest in a statement distributed with the department's news release: "The public expects and deserves integrity from every member of this agency. The misuse of law enforcement technology or confidential information for any unauthorized purpose is a serious breach of the public's trust and will not be tolerated. When misconduct is identified, we act swiftly, hold those responsible accountable, and remain committed to the highest ethical standards." [1]

The agency has not disclosed how investigators discovered the misuse or what specific information Salawu is accused of accessing, and officials said the criminal investigation remains active. [2]

Salawu's arrest is one of a documented string of Georgia law-enforcement officers fired or criminally charged in 2026 for misusing Flock license-plate data for non-law-enforcement purposes, following cases at the Albany Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, and other agencies statewide. [2, 3]

Why we recorded this

Officers granted access to government surveillance systems are trusted to use that access only for legitimate law-enforcement purposes. A DeKalb County Sheriff's Office sergeant with nearly 17 years on the job instead made unauthorized, non-job-related use of the department's Flock license-plate camera network, misconduct that cost him his job and led to a felony charge. This archive records law-enforcement personnel converting a surveillance tool built for public safety into an instrument of personal use, part of a documented pattern across Georgia law-enforcement agencies.

Sources

  1. DeKalb deputy arrested for misuse of Flock tech — FOX 5 Atlanta primary accessed August 14, 2026
  2. Another Georgia officer arrested over alleged Flock camera misuse as internal audits continue uncovering cases — CBS News Atlanta investigative accessed August 14, 2026
  3. 3 Richmond County officers charged as Flock license plate reader investigations continue across Georgia — WDEF investigative accessed August 14, 2026

See also