Savannah police officer Amber Harpe was fired in August following a department investigation that discovered she had shared her Flock login credentials with her husband, Tyler Harpe, an agent for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Security Violations and Targeted Searches
The Savannah Police Department (SPD) does not officially share its Flock license plate reader data with ICE. Officials stated that Harpe’s decision to grant her husband access constituted a direct violation of the department’s established security protocols.
While utilizing the unauthorized access, Tyler Harpe reportedly conducted 983 searches related to 97 specific license plates. According to local affiliate WJCL, these searches were overwhelmingly linked to vehicles registered to Hispanic drivers. The Harpes defended their conduct, asserting that the system was used strictly for "law-enforcement purposes" rather than personal gain.
Disciplinary Action and Broader Misuse
The internal investigation led to a split in disciplinary recommendations. Interim Major Max Nowinsky initially suggested a minor eight-hour suspension. However, Major Michelle Halford and Assistant Police Chief Robert Gavin overruled this recommendation, resulting in Harpe’s termination from the force.
Harpe’s dismissal was part of a larger crackdown on Flock system misuse within the SPD, which saw a total of six employees fired. While four of those individuals were subsequently arrested for their actions, Amber Harpe was not among those facing criminal charges.
