A DeKalb County Sheriff's Office sergeant was fired and arrested after an internal investigation found he used Flock Safety license plate reader technology without authorization, part of a countywide surveillance network the county is spending $18.9 million to expand.

Former Sgt. Kabiru Salawu was arrested Friday, July 17, and charged with felony violation of oath of office and misdemeanor misuse of license plate data, according to the sheriff's office. Officials said Salawu used Flock Safety technology when he was not authorized to do so.

The sheriff's office did not specify what Salawu allegedly searched for or whose data he accessed. A criminal investigation remains active.

Salawu had worked for the sheriff's office since Aug. 24, 2009. He was being held without bond at the DeKalb County Jail as of Wednesday, July 22, according to The Champion Newspaper.

Sheriff Melody Maddox said in a statement that "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."

The local stake

DeKalb County uses Flock Safety automated license plate readers across both its police and sheriff's departments. The county's ALPR network captures plate data at intersections, corridors, and neighborhood entry points throughout the county, including areas serving Dunwoody and Brookhaven residents.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved an $18.9 million initiative called "Digital Shield" in 2025 to place Flock ALPRs at major corridors, high-traffic intersections, and neighborhood entry points countywide. That expansion is ongoing.

A similar case days later

In a separate incident, three deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff's Department in Georgia were terminated and charged on similar allegations involving license plate reader misuse on Monday, July 20, according to reporting in The Augusta Press.

What's next

The criminal investigation into Salawu's conduct is ongoing, according to the sheriff's office. No court date has been announced.