ATHENS, Ga. — Athens-Clarke County police have fired an officer after an internal investigation found he repeatedly used the department’s automated license-plate reader system to search for information about a former girlfriend’s vehicle. The department said former Officer Tyler Vaugh searched the vehicle’s plate numerous times over about a week in 2025, for personal reasons unrelated to law enforcement. Police did not specify when the searches occurred or how many times he accessed the system. A fellow officer reported the suspected misuse, prompting an internal investigation, according to the department. Police Chief Jerry Saulters said the conduct violated the trust placed in officers and department rules. He also praised the officer who reported the concern, saying police have a responsibility to hold one another accountable. The department has requested a criminal investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation while continuing its own administrative review. Vaugh had not been arrested or booked into the Clarke County Jail as of the morning of Oct. 8, 2026, according to police. Athens-Clarke police said they are adding safeguards to oversee use of the license-plate reader system, including limiting access to personnel at the supervisor rank or higher. Department policy prohibits using the technology for personal or other non-official purposes. Automated license-plate readers capture vehicle plate information, which law enforcement agencies can search. The department’s access restriction follows a case in which, according to its findings, an officer used that surveillance tool outside official duties.