Brunswick County sheriff’s employee resigns amid alleged misuse of Flock cameras
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY-TV) — A Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office employee has resigned following the alleged misuse of the agency’s Flock Safety camera system, Sheriff Brian Chism announced Tuesday.
The matter is now under review by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
In a video statement posted to Facebook, Chism said the alleged misuse was identified during a review of activity involving the sheriff’s office Flock program.
The sheriff’s office has not disclosed how the system was allegedly misused or identified the former employee.
Chism said state law limits what the sheriff’s office can publicly release about the personnel matter and ongoing investigation.
“We must balance transparency with our legal obligations regarding personnel information and investigative records,” Chism said.
The sheriff’s office also announced plans to launch a Flock Safety transparency portal in the coming days which comes after The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office established a Flock Safety portal. The portal will provide information about the agency’s use of the camera system.
“We understand that the use of Flock Safety Cameras has generated questions and concerns within our community,” Chism said.
Flock Safety cameras are used by law enforcement agencies to capture vehicle information and assist with investigations. Chism said the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office considers the system a law enforcement tool that helps promote public safety but emphasized that its use requires accountability and transparency.
“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,” Chism said.
The announcement comes as law enforcement agencies in North Carolina face scrutiny over the use of Flock cameras.
In July, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was arrested after allegedly using the Flock system to assist a target in a drug investigation in another county.
In August, a Mooresville police officer was arrested and accused of using Flock to track her boyfriend’s ex-wife.
Mark Williams, an attorney and founder of DeFlock ILM, has frequently criticized the use of Flock cameras, citing privacy concerns.
“I’m not against law enforcement. I have many friends who are in law enforcement and they tell me it helps them fight crime, and I have no reason to disbelieve that,” Williams said. “But I just don’t think these cameras are American.”
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office said the new transparency portal is intended to give residents more information about the program while complying with state law.
“We appreciate our community asking questions and holding us accountable,” Chism said. “Trust is earned through responsible action, transparency wherever the law allows it.”
The sheriff’s office said the transparency portal will be available on its website in the coming days.
