Savannah Police Officer Gave Flock Login to ICE Agent Husband, Then Was Fired
Access shared with husband
Amber Harpe was dismissed in August after an internal investigation found she had shared her Flock credentials with Tyler Harpe, her husband and an ICE agent. The Savannah Police Department said the disclosure breached its security protocols and stressed that it does not provide its Flock data to ICE.
WJCL reported that Tyler Harpe made 983 searches concerning 97 license plates while his access was unauthorized. Most of the plates were registered to Hispanic drivers.
Harpe defended the searches
The Harpes said they did not use the system for personal reasons. They described the searches as being solely for “law-enforcement purposes,” according to the report. The department’s concern centered on the unauthorized sharing of system access. The account does not say that the searches led to arrests or other outcomes.
Department chose dismissal
Interim Major Max Nowinsky initially proposed an eight-hour suspension for Amber Harpe. Major Michelle Halford and Assistant Police Chief Robert Gavin rejected that recommendation, and Harpe was dismissed.
She was among six Savannah police employees fired after an internal inquiry found Flock misuse. Four of those employees were later arrested; Harpe was not among them.
Key points
- Amber Harpe was fired after sharing her Flock credentials with her husband, an ICE agent.
- Tyler Harpe made 983 searches involving 97 license plates while his access was unauthorized.
- Most plates in those searches were registered to Hispanic drivers, WJCL reported.
- Four of the six fired employees were later arrested; Harpe was not.