SHIELDS OF SHAME | GEORGIA ALPR ABUSE DATABASE | GWINNETT COUNTY
Renee Alexia Downer: Gwinnett County Officer Accused of Using Police Databases to Track Former Partner
A domestic dispute investigation led to stalking and simple battery charges against a Gwinnett County police officer—and allegations that she had used police information systems to locate a former romantic partner. The case of Renee Alexia Downer is part of a broader Georgia accountability story about access to sensitive law-enforcement databases. The Institute for Justice classifies this case as involving automated license plate reader (ALPR) abuse, but its research index does not identify the ALPR vendor. Without the actual query logs, this page does not label the system as Flock Safety.
What police said happened in May 2026
According to the case account provided to Shields of Shame and contemporary reporting, Gwinnett County officers responded to a domestic dispute involving Downer on May 1, 2026. Investigators said she and the alleged victim had previously been romantically involved, had recently separated and continued sharing a residence while the other person prepared to move. During an argument the preceding night, Downer allegedly pushed the victim onto a couch. Investigators also alleged she had previously used law-enforcement resources available through her employment to obtain information about that person’s whereabouts.
Downer was reportedly arrested on simple battery and stalking charges and relieved of duty pending administrative review. These are accusations and employment actions, not proof of guilt. The available case summary does not establish a final court outcome or a final agency disciplinary disposition.
The employer is Gwinnett County Police Department
Some secondary research describes the employer only as a Gwinnett-area law-enforcement agency. The supplied Georgia POST employment record identifies the Gwinnett County Police Department and lists her start date as November 27, 2023. This resolves the agency identification in the materials supplied for this investigation. A separate current POST search would be needed to verify any later change in employment or certification status.
Open full Georgia POST certification PDF ↗
Was it Flock? The evidence does not yet say
The Institute for Justice’s ALPR Abuse Database categorizes the Downer incident under Stalking and describes alleged use of law-enforcement databases, including a license plate reader system, to monitor a former romantic partner’s location. However, the database lists the platform as Unspecified. That is a critical distinction: ALPR is a category of surveillance technology; Flock Safety is one vendor. The mere involvement of a license plate reader does not prove that the Flock platform was used.
To establish the technology and specific activity, obtain Gwinnett County’s ALPR vendor contract, audit history for the relevant user, search dates, queried plate numbers where legally releasable, the associated case justifications, and the arrest affidavit describing the alleged tracking. Until then, the most accurate description is alleged misuse of police databases, including an ALPR system of unconfirmed make.
Institute for Justice — ALPR abuse research database
A personal dispute and access to public surveillance tools
Law-enforcement databases may include information capable of revealing where a vehicle was detected and when. That can be valuable during legitimate investigations. It can also expose intimate movement patterns when access is used to investigate personal relationships. The public-interest question is whether departments have safeguards that detect improper searches before private information is misused.
Nothing in the available materials establishes the exact number of ALPR queries in Downer’s case, the specific dates of those queries, whether any results were downloaded, or the vendor that operated the relevant system. Those questions remain open and should not be filled in with details from unrelated Georgia Flock cases.
Chronology of the documented allegations
- November 27, 2023: Downer’s employment with Gwinnett County Police Department begins, according to the supplied POST record.
- April 30, 2026: Alleged physical confrontation during a domestic argument, as described in the case account.
- May 1, 2026: Police respond to the domestic dispute; investigators reportedly uncover allegations of database use to locate the former partner.
- Following the investigation: Downer is reportedly arrested on stalking and simple battery charges and relieved of duty pending review.
- October 13, 2026: Shields of Shame publishes the case profile and POST assets. Final disposition and vendor identity remain unverified.
Original case assets
All four user-supplied items are available here. The POST PDF and screenshot provide employment and certification context, while the supplied photograph and thumbnail identify the case visually.
What should investigators and journalists request next?
Request the police incident report and arrest affidavit; any warrant describing database access; Gwinnett County’s ALPR vendor and retention contracts; user-level query and export logs for the period at issue; internal affairs records, relief-of-duty notice and final employment disposition; current Georgia POST records; and the criminal docket. Request that any withholding be explained with the applicable Georgia Open Records Act exemption and that nonexempt portions be released.
Frequently asked questions
Was Renee Downer a Gwinnett County police officer?
Yes. Her supplied Georgia POST employment record lists the Gwinnett County Police Department beginning November 27, 2023.
What charges were reported?
Simple battery and stalking, arising from a reported domestic dispute investigation.
Did police say she used a license plate reader?
The Institute for Justice research database identifies an ALPR system among the law-enforcement databases allegedly involved. The exact underlying logs have not been reviewed for this article.
Was the ALPR system Flock?
That is not established. The IJ database lists the platform as Unspecified.
Was she convicted or fired?
The case account establishes reported arrest and relief from duty pending administrative review, not a verified conviction or final employment disposition.
Related surveillance-accountability cases
Paige Dominic Forte — Conyers Police Department
Nicholas James Barker — Athens-Clarke County Police Department
Institute for Justice — national ALPR abuse database
Editorial note: This page distinguishes supplied POST records, reported allegations and third-party research categorization. Charges are not convictions. The ALPR platform remains unconfirmed. Published October 13, 2026.