Tift sheriff withholds ABAC police chief Mike Tompkins' Flock audit records, citing outside-agency investigation

Credit: Danny / Any County News · Source: Tift County Sheriff's Office and ABAC replies to Any County News; WALB

The Tift County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) has withheld the Flock license plate reader audit records Any County News requested for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) Police Chief Mike Tompkins, listing them under "Outside Agency Open/On-going Investigations" and citing Georgia's pending-investigation exemption.

Background: WALB reported Sept. 29, 2026, that Tompkins had been placed on paid administrative leave. ABAC Vice President Ryan Hogan confirmed the leave to WALB and said "there is no additional information available at this time." According to ABAC's website, as cited by WALB, Tompkins was appointed chief effective Nov. 10, 2025, and sworn in Dec. 16, 2025, after more than 17 years with the department.

Our records request: On Sept. 30, Any County News filed a Georgia Open Records Act request with TCSO for Flock audit records for the past year for all operators, a list of authorized users, and specific audit records for ABAC Chief Mike Tompkins.

TCSO's response: TCSO Public Information Officer David Haire replied the afternoon of Sept. 30. TCSO said it will produce the all-operator audit records and the authorized-user list once a cost estimate is approved, about $28.59 for each, with redactions for captured license plate data and pending investigations. For the Tompkins-specific audit records, TCSO did not give a cost estimate. Its reply listed that item under the heading "Outside Agency Open/On-going Investigations" and quoted O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(4), which exempts "records of law enforcement, prosecution, or regulatory agencies in any pending investigation or prosecution of criminal or unlawful activity." Any County News has not yet approved the cost estimates.

Earlier that morning, in reply to a separate press inquiry, Haire wrote that TCSO "is not involved in any investigation connected to Chief Tompkins or the ABAC Police Department." Asked follow-up questions on Oct. 2, including whether TCSO was the agency that provided Flock access, Haire replied: "We have no comment on ABAC's ongoing investigation."

ABAC's Oct. 1 email: Hogan emailed Any County News on Oct. 1 with a campus update. It says a University System of Georgia (USG) administrative review concerned "unauthorized use of a Flock automated license plate reader system by a member of the ABAC Police Department." ABAC says it does not own, operate or maintain any Flock cameras. According to the update, USG found the employee obtained access to the Flock system through a local law enforcement agency, and certain searches "were not conducted for an authorized law enforcement purpose." ABAC leadership received the completed review Sept. 30 and "determined that the allegations were substantiated." Effective Oct. 1, Acting Chief Douglas Chadwell was appointed interim chief of police. ABAC said it "will not comment further on personnel matters." The update does not name the employee.

On Oct. 2, Any County News asked ABAC about Tompkins' status, any criminal referral and which agency provided Flock access. Hogan replied that "the only information available at this time" is the Oct. 1 campus statement.

WALB's Oct. 1 report, updated Oct. 2, says Chadwell was appointed interim chief "after Tompkins was fired." ABAC's statements to Any County News do not say that, and Any County News has asked ABAC and USG to confirm his employment status.

No criminal charges against Tompkins are reported in any of these sources. No statement from Tompkins appears in WALB's reports or in the agency replies to Any County News, and Any County News has not been in contact with him.

Still pending: ABAC sent Any County News a $137.86 cost estimate (REF# TR-33490) for records Any County News requested on Oct. 2. USG's Office of Legal Affairs acknowledged Any County News' Oct. 2 records request and said it would give an update within three business days. The Tifton Police Department said Sept. 30 it has no involvement.

Mike Tompkins has not been charged with a crime in any of the sources cited here. ABAC has not publicly named the employee whose Flock searches the USG review examined.

Sources: Tift County Sheriff's Office (PIO David Haire) replies to Any County News, Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, 2026 · ABAC (Ryan Hogan) emails to Any County News, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, 2026 · USG Office of Legal Affairs and ABAC Open Records replies, Oct. 2, 2026 · Tifton Police Department reply, Sept. 30, 2026 · WALB, Sept. 29, 2026 · WALB, Oct. 1, 2026 (updated Oct. 2)

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