When Andrae Wright left his position as an investigator at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia in 2021, he relinquished his gun and badge but retained access to the department’s license plate reader system, known as Flock. Over the following five years, Wright reportedly conducted more than 60 searches within the system without intervention, according to audit logs reviewed by authorities and statements from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Among Wright’s searches were multiple queries for a vanity license plate linked to his estranged wife, whose middle name appeared on the plate. The couple divorced earlier this year, and Wright was involved in a custody dispute over their teenage daughter during some of the searches. In July 2026, following a tip from a concerned individual, local law enforcement arrested Wright on charges of stalking. The warrant alleges that he misused the Flock system “for the purpose of harassing and intimidating” his former spouse. Georgia state law limits the use of license plate reader data to bona fide law enforcement investigations.
Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Brian Bailey acknowledged that the agency did not regularly audit access to the Flock system during the period of Wright’s employment and beyond but indicated plans to implement such oversight moving forward.
This incident is part of a broader pattern involving unauthorized access to the Flock database, with at least 11 documented cases where government officials or others have gained illicit entry to search vehicle locations, sometimes tracking romantic partners without authorization. The cases underscore concerns voiced by security experts about the vulnerabilities in Flock’s extensive network of license plate readers deployed nationwide.
Despite these security gaps, Flock, the company that provides the system to law enforcement agencies, has emphasized its commitment to security while reportedly resisting internal recommendations to strengthen access controls. Three former employees, who requested anonymity to avoid professional repercussions, stated that Flock management discouraged implementing additional barriers, citing potential difficulties in securing contracts with law enforcement agencies reluctant to accept more stringent restrictions.
Wright did not respond to requests for comment. The ongoing scrutiny of Flock’s practices and law enforcement oversight raises questions about the balance between public safety tools and privacy protections.