Milton fired detective Randy Dula in August after he used the city’s license plate reader cameras to locate his wife during diabetic emergencies, his attorney says.
State records show Dula, the department’s 2025 Officer of the Year, was terminated Aug. 7 but do not specify why, WSB-TV reported. Attorney Mitch Skandalakis told the station that the disciplinary grounds included neglect of duty, abuse of position and use of departmental equipment.
The Roundabout reported Dula’s termination and his attorney’s explanation Oct. 15, a day before WSB-TV’s story.
Skandalakis said the case involved seven uses of Milton’s Flock system over two years. Dula and his wife had agreed she would call when she left home and again when she arrived at her destination. When she failed to check in, he searched for her vehicle, the attorney said.
The couple had tried Life360, a phone-based tracking app, but found it unreliable, according to Skandalakis. He maintained that Dula was checking on a vulnerable person’s safety.
Milton’s license plate reader policy limits access to legitimate law enforcement purposes and says misuse can lead to termination and civil or criminal penalties, according to WSB-TV’s review.
City Manager Steve Krokoff and Councilmember Carol Cookerly declined to discuss the specifics during a phone conversation with reporter Bryan Mims. They said an ongoing investigation and personnel restrictions prevented them from commenting, but indicated more information could be released in the following weeks.
Dula joined Milton police in November 2023. In addition to his department award, he received recognition at the Alpharetta Lions Club’s March 26 public safety dinner at Atlanta National Golf Club, according to the club’s newsletter.
The case comes amid statewide scrutiny of license plate reader access. As of Sept. 23, at least 19 people working in law enforcement or emergency services had been arrested and charged that year over alleged misuse, the Georgia Recorder reported, citing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
State Sen. John Albers, a Roswell Republican who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee, has called for stronger oversight while preserving the technology’s investigative uses.
The systems also represent a growing expense for nearby departments. Alpharetta’s annual Flock bill rose from $17,680 in 2020 to $381,000 in 2025 as it added cameras and software, according to a WIRED investigation.
