A former Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office employee is under state investigation following alleged misuse of the Flock Safety license plate reader system.
A recent Flock Safety system review initiated an internal affairs investigation and an employee's resignation, Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Chism said during a Facebook video announcement.
"Recently, during a review of flock system activity, information was identified regarding the use of the system by a member of our agency that warranted further review," Chism said, not detailing what the identified information was.
State law regarding personnel and ongoing investigations restricts the agency from releasing information, the sheriff said.
"We understand that can sometimes be frustrating when
the community is asking legitimate questions," Chism said.
Chism reassured that the agency uses the system as a tool to assist with "legitimate" public safety and investigative purposes, noting oversight and accountability are in place as "safeguards."
"One employee's alleged misuse of a system should not be confused with the authorized use of that system by the men and women of the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office who use the investigative tools appropriately every single day," Chism said.
The sheriff's office remains committed to protecting the privacy and rights of the public, Chism added, as they continue reviewing practices, policies, access controls and auditing procedures to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is now independently reviewing the situation.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick Sheriff's Office employee resigns over alleged misuse of Flock cameras
