Sierra Donrelle Carroll: Houston County Flock Audit and Perry Police Search Records
Houston County Sheriff’s Office suspended school resource officer Sierra Donrelle Carroll without pay pending termination on August 17, 2026, after an internal audit identified alleged misuse of Flock Safety automated license plate reader information. The department referred its findings to the district attorney for possible prosecution. This was a personnel action and referral, not proof of a criminal conviction.
Major development: more than 4,000 queries
USA TODAY’s national Flock investigation reported that Carroll queried one license plate more than 4,000 times over 16 months while working for Perry Police Department. The outlet identified six plates repeatedly queried, including two registered to coworkers’ vehicles and one belonging to her daughter’s father. These are findings attributed to USA TODAY’s analysis, not a determination that every query was unlawful. The searches occurred during her Perry employment, not necessarily during her subsequent Houston County employment.
Read the USA TODAY investigation ↗
Employment history and suspension
Earlier Shields of Shame reporting identifies Carroll as working for Perry Police Department from August 2022 until her voluntary resignation in April 2025. Houston County Sheriff’s Office says it hired her April 28, 2025, assigning her to its School Resource Unit. On August 17, 2026, the agency announced suspension without pay pending termination after its own Flock audit. The agency did not disclose specific queries in its initial announcement. There is no verified allegation in the reviewed sources that Carroll searched for students.
41NBC: Houston County suspension and prosecutor referral ↗
What the sheriff told the public before the audit
In July 2026, Sheriff Matt Moulton defended Flock use and explained that the county had more than 100 readers, according to local reporting. He described investigative uses and said misuse would be addressed. The subsequent Carroll investigation makes it important to obtain the actual audit settings, permission history and supervisory reviews.
41NBC: Sheriff discusses Flock oversight ↗
Georgia POST certification record
The supplied certification screenshot is reproduced below. A POST profile is an administrative snapshot; suspension pending termination, criminal charges and POST sanctions are separate determinations. The current certification status and any subsequent criminal case should be confirmed with updated official records.
Case chronology
- August 2022: Reported start of Perry Police Department service.
- During Perry employment: USA TODAY identifies repeated Flock searches of six plates, including over 4,000 queries of one plate over 16 months.
- April 2025: Reported resignation from Perry.
- April 28, 2025: Houston County Sheriff’s Office hires Carroll.
- July 2026: Sheriff discusses Flock cameras and oversight with local media.
- August 17, 2026: Suspension without pay pending termination; case referred to district attorney.
Records needed to establish what happened
Request complete native Flock query audit logs from Perry and Houston County, timestamps, plate identifiers where releasable, entered reasons, linked case numbers, search exports, account permissions, supervisor review records, audit flags, training acknowledgments, internal investigation findings, referral documents, separation records, and updated Georgia POST status. Ask each agency to identify the Georgia Open Records Act exemption relied upon for any withheld material and release segregable records.
Five original case assets
Frequently asked questions
Was Carroll fired?
Houston County announced suspension without pay pending termination. An updated personnel record is needed to confirm final separation.
Was Carroll charged?
The August announcement referred the case to prosecutors. No charge is established by that announcement.
Where did the 4,000 searches occur?
USA TODAY attributed them to Carroll’s period of employment with Perry Police Department.
Whose vehicles were searched?
USA TODAY reported plates associated with coworkers and her daughter’s father among the six repeatedly searched plates.
What remains unknown?
The full audit trail, purposes entered, supervisory approvals, final employment outcome and any later criminal disposition.
Related coverage
Earlier Shields of Shame reporting ↗
Institute for Justice ALPR research ↗
Editorial note: Reported audit findings and suspension are not proof of criminal guilt. The case information should be updated when official records establish further outcomes.