CANTON, GA – Three Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office employees, including two supervisors, have been arrested after an internal audit revealed they were using the county’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) system for personal reasons.
Internal Audit Flags Misconduct
The Sheriff’s Office uncovered the breach through self-initiated digital audits that flagged anomalies in how the surveillance system was being accessed. According to officials, the technology was used for purposes entirely unrelated to law enforcement or criminal investigations.
The arrests began on June 12, when Deputy Cynthia Jodisy was terminated and taken into custody. Following further investigation, two high-ranking supervisors were also arrested:
- Lieutenant Chris Bryan of Acworth
- Sergeant Mike Ceden of Cartersville
All three were booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center on charges related to the unauthorized use of the system.
Public Reactions and System Oversight
ALPR systems automatically capture passing license plates and compare them against law enforcement databases to track stolen cars or suspects. While the technology is a proven investigative tool, the data logs detailed location and time stamps for every scanned vehicle, raising privacy concerns.
Local residents in nearby Canton expressed surprise at the breach but credited the department for its swift, transparent action. “The problem wasn’t the cameras. It was the people operating them,” noted one local resident, adding support for the technology as long as proper oversight remains in place.
Growing Privacy Debate in Georgia
This incident adds fuel to an ongoing debate over police surveillance data in Georgia. Recently, nearby Dunwoody faced intense public pushback and postponed two votes before finally renewing a $200,000 contract with camera vendor Flock Safety, as residents questioned data security and unauthorized access limits.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the investigation is active and ongoing, reiterating their commitment to maintaining strict ethical and professional standards.
