Allegation: Sheriff Jay Jones used surveillance technology during election

Lee County Sheriff-elect Cam Hunt has allegedly filed a formal ethics complaint which centers around current Sheriff Jay Jones’ use of surveillance technology during the election cycle. Hunt unseated the long-time sheriff in the May primary and will take office in January 2027. The Alabama Ethics Commission would not confirm if a complaint was filed, by whom or any details regarding the matter saying it was not public information.

Hunt claimed in a social media post this weekend that “during the election, a geofence was placed around my private residence using the Sheriff’s Office GPS system. I have evidence documenting it.”  A “geofence” is a virtual perimeter or invisible boundary set up around a real-world geographic area using GPS. In fleet management, it is used in part to alert managers of unauthorized vehicle use. Hunt told multiple media outlets he believed the technology was used to spy on Lee County deputies visiting his home during the election.

The sheriff-elect’s public remarks detailing his ethics complaint on Facebook and to Alabama media outlets appears in defiance of the commission’s own instructions. According to the Alabama Ethics Commission “It is strongly recommended and we encourage any Complainant not to discuss any matter filed with the Ethics Commission so not to jeopardize an on-going investigation.”  When informed the complainant in this case already made the information public a spokesperson for the Ethics Commission said “we ask them not to” but ultimately can’t control that.

Hunt also stated online “the fleet GPS system serves a legitimate purpose. The issue is misuse, not the technology itself. Interestingly, Sheriff Jones canceled the Verizon contract in July 2026, shortly after the ethics complaint was filed. I’ll let others decide what they make of that timing.”

Sheriff Jones has responded publicly to the allegation saying the technology has always been used by his office as a public safety tool. Cam Hunt noted in part that “Technology has an important place in modern law enforcement, but the more powerful the tool, the more important the constitutional boundaries, safeguards, and accountability surrounding its use. Those standards must apply to everyone, regardless of rank or title.”

Cam Hunt did not respond to questions from NowGeorgia.com at the time this report was published.