Savannah PD investigates vandalism of Flock cameras in Savannah neighborhood

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah Police are investigating the vandalism of Flock cameras in the Sweetwater Station neighborhood.

According to a Savannah Police report, officers responded to a report of property damage on Clubhouse Drive on Aug. 21 after two surveillance cameras at the neighborhood entrance were found vandalized.

Officers said they made contact with Gregory Quinn, the director of the neighborhood’s homeowners association. He said he had received multiple reports that two Flock cameras positioned at the community entrance had been vandalized.

Cameras found cut down

In the police report, Quinn told law enforcement he believed both cameras had been deliberately cut down, appearing to have been severed with a saw.

SEE: 4 SPD employees arrested for Flock misuse; GBI investigation still underway

Quinn told police the cameras were last seen operational and intact on Aug. 20 at approximately 8:45 p.m. The representative said he received the initial notification of the damage at approximately 6:50 a.m. on Aug. 21 from a Savannah Police Department officer.

Possible connection to social media dispute

According to the police report narrative, the HOA representative told officers the vandalism might be related to a discussion on his private social media platform concerning the Flock cameras.

RELATED: ‘The people in power need to be held accountable’: Reactions to Savannah Flock camera arrests

He referenced a previous disagreement with a resident of the community regarding the implementation and purpose of the surveillance devices, according to the report.

On Sweetwater station’s neighborhood website they announced they installation of the cameras through their “All Things Community” tab, see below:

Most residents favor putting cameras back up

Out of 33 Sweetwater Station residents WTOC heard from, 22 said they wanted the cameras put back up. Seven were indifferent, and four people were against the cameras.

Sweetwater Station resident Derrick Williams said he noticed the cameras were down while driving by.

“I drove by like ‘oh no man, it’s down,’” Williams said.

Williams said he supports the cameras.

“I’m in full support of flock, anything for safety,” Williams said.

Christopher Bruce, deputy executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said residents who disagree with the cameras have options besides taking them down.

“You may like flock cameras, but you may like them in a certain area. You may want the data to be retained for a certain amount of time, or you may not want it at all,” Bruce said.

Bruce said people upset about the cameras should speak up instead of removing them illegally.

“The point is, can you get your voice out?” Bruce said.

Sweetwater Station resident Bob Hellinger said the cameras never bothered him.

“It never bothered me, I don’t mind them when I’m driving in and out, I’m not doing anything wrong,” Hellinger said.

Who has access to the cameras

Some residents opposed to the cameras questioned who has access to them, and some supporters said they were not aware when the cameras were installed.

Quinn said in a phone interview that police and other law enforcement do not have access to the neighborhood’s Flock systems.

Quinn said the cameras were installed in 2024 and are meant to be a deterrent for crime and to give the HOA resources if a crime occurs in the neighborhood.

Hellinger said he sees value in the security measures.

“It’d be nice to know who’s coming in and out of here, especially if an incident happens where a car gets sideswiped or, God forbid, a kid or something like that — we’ve got a record on camera of who is coming in and who’s leaving really fast, why isn’t that a good thing?” Hellinger said.

The HOA’s two-year contract for the cameras is set to expire in November. The neighborhood’s next meeting is in September. Quinn said he could not imagine the street without cameras to help deter and solve crime in the future.