Milton Police Department Fires Detective Randy Dula

The department dismissed the officer for his unauthorized use of a license plate surveillance system.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Milton Police Department Fires Detective Randy Dula

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Should police officers be allowed to use public surveillance technology to track family members during emergencies?

The Milton Police Department has terminated detective Randy Dula, who served in law enforcement for over a decade. He was fired for using the Flock surveillance system to search for his wife's license plate.

Why it matters

The firing highlights strict prohibitions against using government surveillance tools for personal reasons. An attorney for the former detective claims the searches were meant to track his wife during medical emergencies.

Randy Dula performed seven searches for his wife's license plate over a two-year period, according to department findings. He has not faced criminal charges for the usage of the surveillance system.

The players

Randy Dula

He is a former detective with over a decade of law enforcement experience who was named the 2024 officer of the year in Milton.

Milton Police Department

This is the municipal law enforcement agency in Milton, Georgia, that employed and subsequently fired the detective.

The details

Although Randy Dula was named the 2024 officer of the year, the department terminated him for violating a Georgia statute that forbids personal use of the Flock surveillance system. Dula allegedly only accessed the system when other tracking methods, such as Life 360, failed to locate his wife.

Timeline

  1. The officer performed the seven searches over a two-year period prior to his firing.

  2. Randy Dula received the department officer of the year award in 2024.

  3. An attorney held a news conference regarding the termination on October 20, 2026.

Legal Context

This case centers on the enforcement of a Georgia statute prohibiting the use of the Flock surveillance system for personal reasons. It highlights the growing tension between agency accountability and the use of expansive private surveillance tools by government officials.

The incident brings attention to how local police agencies regulate access to surveillance data on private citizens. Residents may see further discussion regarding data privacy policies and oversight for municipal law enforcement tools.

The takeaway

Maintaining public trust requires strict adherence to privacy laws even for seasoned officers. Officials emphasize that surveillance technology must remain limited to authorized law enforcement purposes to prevent misuse.

Further reading

For more information on department standards, visit the Law Enforcement section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Wrdw.

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Should police officers be allowed to use public surveillance technology to track family members during emergencies?