GBI Arrests Four Former Savannah Police Department Employees for Misuse of a License Plate Reader System

Savannah, Chatham County, GA (August 21, 2026) - The GBI has arrested and charged Marquis Dillard, age 48, of Savannah, GA, with two counts of Misuse of a License Plate Reader System and one count of Violation of Oath of Office, Donald Phillips, age 23, of Fleming, GA, with two counts of Misuse of a License Plate Reader System and one count of Violation of Oath of Office, Matthew Rich, age 39, of Savannah, GA, with two counts of Misuse of a License Plate Reader System and one count of Violation of Oath of Office, and Calandic Thomas, age 34, of Pooler, GA, with two counts of Misuse of a License Plate Reader System. At the time of the offenses, Dillard, Phillips, and Rich were employed as police officers and Thomas was employed as a Community Service Specialist with the Savannah Police Department.

On July 29, 2026, the Savannah Police Department requested the GBI to investigate allegations of license plate reader misuse following an internal audit of the Flock Safety System. Preliminary information indicates that the above listed subjects accessed the Flock Safety System for non-law enforcement purposes.

Dillard, Phillips, Rich, and Thomas were booked into the Chatham County Jail.

This investigation is active and ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Statesboro, GA, at (912) 871-1121. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Eastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.