SafeD Athens

06/02/2026

📣 Save the Date: ACC Mayoral Runoff Town Hall

Athens voters will have an opportunity to hear directly from the two candidates seeking to become Athens-Clarke County’s next mayor.

🗓 Wednesday, June 3
🤝 Meet & Greet: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
🎤 Town Hall: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Appleton Auditorium, Athens-Clarke County Library

Take a few minutes to learn about the candidates, hear their positions on issues impacting our community, and make an informed choice before voting.

Be sure to follow both runoff candidates and make your voice heard at the ballot box.

⤵️We’ll share a few clips from each candidate in the comments to help everyone learn more.

05/25/2026

🗳️ Advance Voting & Absentee Ballot Information for the June 16 Runoff Election

Advance voting for the June 16 Runoff Election will be held June 8–12. Visit https://www.accgov.com/243/Advance-Voting

📬 Absentee Ballot Reminder: If you voted by Absentee Ballot AND you opted to receive a runoff ballot based one of the following criteria: Over 65 years of age, Disabled, or Military Overseas then you should automatically receive it.

If you did not elect that option, or if you need to request an absentee ballot for the first time, the deadline to submit an absentee ballot application is June 5!! https://securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/s/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

If you are unsure whether a runoff ballot will be mailed to you, please contact the Athens-Clarke County Elections Office or check your status through Georgia’s My Voter Page.

Make a plan to vote and let your voice be heard.

Advance voting information can be found here.

05/15/2026

As questions continue to circulate regarding Flock’s testing and development program, we believe it’s important for the community to review the company’s explanation directly and understand the distinctions between LPR technology, broader security integrations, and how testing partnerships were structured.

The article also outlines changes Flock says it has implemented in response to privacy concerns, including strengthened safeguards and additional oversight measures.

We support informed, fact-based discussion — especially on issues involving both public safety and privacy.

This article explains how Flock tests its technology in real-world environments, strengthens search safeguards, and addresses recent privacy questions about its development practices.

05/15/2026

As conversations continue around LPR technology and public safety tools, we believe it’s important for the community to have access to factual information directly from the source — including how data is stored, protected, audited, and accessed.

This overview from Flock Safety outlines the company’s cybersecurity practices, access controls, retention policies, encryption standards, and accountability measures designed to protect customer and community data.

Whether people ultimately support or oppose these technologies, informed discussion matters.

Flock CISO Chris Castaldo explains how layered defenses, specialized teams, and third-party partnerships protect customer data, while addressing recent misleading claims and offering a transparent look at how vulnerabilities are managed in the real world.

05/11/2026

📸 Setting the Record Straight on Flock Cameras in Athens

As Athens-Clarke County’s public safety advocacy organization, SafeD Athens believes our community deserves accurate, complete information about the tools ACCPD
uses to keep us safe. Claims have circulated that Flock cameras constitute “mass surveillance,” that marginalized communities are endangered by them, that no policies protect residents, and that the technology doesn’t reduce crime. We’d like to address each of these claims — fairly and factually.

▪️What Flock cameras actually are:

Flock cameras are license plate readers (LPRs). They photograph the rear of vehicles passing on public roads, reading plates and noting vehicle characteristics like make, model, and color. They do not perform facial recognition, do not store biometrics, and cannot be queried to find people. This is meaningfully different from “mass surveillance.”

▪️Who owns Athens-Clarke County’s data:

Flock Safety does not own or retain ACC’s data — Athens-Clarke County Police Department does. Each agency controls its own data independently. Access is limited to authorized users with role-based permissions, and every search is tied to a specific user and recorded automatically — there is no open browsing and no anonymous searches. Data is automatically hard-deleted after 30 days.

▪️On policies and safeguards:

Athens-Clarke County has written policies governing LPR use. All queries are stored for auditing purposes to ensure access was made by authorized persons for legitimate purposes and in compliance with law and policy. ACCPD is also one of Georgia’s most credentialed departments, nationally accredited by CALEA and the first in the state to receive certification through the GACP.

▪️On marginalized communities:

This concern deserves to be taken seriously — and the evidence is instructive. The Oakland NAACP endorsed Flock technology, with its president stating that Flock cameras detect only vehicles tied to a crime, removing the subjective judgment that too often leads to harmful interactions. Objective, evidence-based technology can actually reduce bias in policing interactions.

▪️On whether it works:

Independent research validated by criminologists at Texas Christian University and the University of Texas found that one additional Flock LPR camera per sworn officer correlates with a 9.1% increase in crime clearance rates. Locally, ACCPD has reported Flock cameras helping solve recent assault cases right here in Athens.

▪️On transparency and accountability:

SafeD Athens supports both effective public safety tools and responsible oversight. Our position has always been that communities deserve factual information, clear policies, accountability safeguards, and honest public discussion surrounding public safety technology.

👉 SafeD Athens is aware that opposition to Flock cameras has become a topic in local political discourse. We respectfully encourage all elected officials and those seeking office to review the facts before making public safety commitments to our community.

Public safety and civil liberties are not opposing values — protecting both is our mission.

For those interested in hearing a deeper discussion about how LPR technology is actually used in modern policing, we encourage listening to a recent episode of the Classic City Crime Podcast featuring Jamie Hudson, Director of Product Consulting & Training at Flock Safety. The conversation covers how Flock systems operate, data retention policies, investigative safeguards, and the role precision policing technology can play in public safety.

🎧 Podcast: Classic City Crime Podcast featuring Jamie Hudson of Flock Safety

https://youtu.be/LL9D5Vp6h2k?si=RhnZv6VhXmxjQOog

SafeD Athens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to public safety advocacy in Athens-Clarke County. We do not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office.

05/11/2026

Empowered parents can create safer learning environments, upholding every student's fundamental right to safety. Discover how landlords in Athens can prioritize student well-being and security by watching the entire podcast on Flock technology.

05/08/2026

The moment we've been waiting for has finally arrived! Such an informative podcast.

05/08/2026

Just 2 more hours until Classic City Crime Podcast premieres the conversation with Flock Safety, those responsible for our new RTCC and cameras throughout town and across the country. Can we balance privacy and security? We discuss it! Join us on YouTube or on Facebook!

05/08/2026

Tonight 7pm!!!!

05/08/2026

Get ready to be inspired! A thought-provoking conversation between our local podcaster in Athens and Flock is coming soon, shedding light on the innovative use of LPRs - we can't wait to share this insightful podcast with you!