Cam Hunt, the Republican nominee for Lee County Sheriff, has filed a complaint with the Alabama Ethics Commission alleging that taxpayer-funded vehicle tracking technology used by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office may have been used for political purposes during the 2025–2026 sheriff’s election.

According to a press release from Hunt, he submitted the complaint to the Alabama Ethics Commission on June 4, 2026. The complaint was assigned Case No. 20260354 and requests an investigation into the alleged misuse of government resources and official authority.

The complaint centers around the Verizon Fleet GPS system used by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to track agency vehicles.

Hunt alleges that during the election, a GPS “geofence” was established around his private residence. According to information provided to Hunt, the geofence was allegedly used to identify Sheriff’s Office vehicles entering the area around his home while he was challenging incumbent Sheriff Jay Jones.

Hunt is asking the Ethics Commission to determine who authorized the alleged geofence, why it was created, who monitored it or received notifications from it, and whether there was a legitimate governmental or law enforcement purpose for establishing the digital perimeter.

The complaint also raises concerns about potential retaliation involving Sheriff’s Office employees. Hunt alleges that employees expressed concerns about potential retaliation for associating with him during the campaign. He also says he received information that employees’ personal social media activity may have been monitored and that a list was allegedly maintained identifying employees believed to support his campaign.

Hunt is requesting that investigators review Verizon Fleet records, audit logs, notifications and other electronic data that could determine what occurred and who may have been involved.

“I have consistently said that technology can be an extremely valuable public safety tool while also presenting legitimate privacy concerns,” Hunt said. “This situation demonstrates exactly why safeguards, audit trails, oversight, and accountability matter.”

Hunt said the issue raises broader questions about the use of government tracking technology and the limits placed on its use.

“This is bigger than one election or one piece of technology,” Hunt said. “It is about the government’s ability to track people, the limits placed on that power, and the accountability that follows when those limits are crossed.”

Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones responded to the allegations and disputed Hunt’s characterization of the GPS system.

Jones said the Sheriff’s Office has utilized a fleet management location system with GPS technology for many years. According to Jones, the system is intended to provide for the safety of patrol deputies if standard communications methods fail and to help ensure patrol units are allocated for the most efficient response to calls for service.

“The Sheriff’s Office has not and would not allow the use of this system for any purpose not involved in the interest of public safety,” Jones said.

The Sheriff’s Office did not provide additional details regarding Hunt’s specific allegations about a geofence around his residence.

Hunt defeated Jones in the May 2026 Republican primary for Lee County Sheriff and is scheduled to take office in January 2027.

CNAW2News has reached out to the Alabama Ethics Commission through its public records portal seeking information related to Hunt’s complaint and Case No. 20260354. As of publication, the commission had not responded to CNAW2News’ request.

The allegations made in Hunt’s complaint have not been independently substantiated by CNAW2News, and the filing of an ethics complaint does not establish that a violation occurred.

CNAW2News will continue to follow the matter and report any developments from the Alabama Ethics Commission or the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.