Polk County, Georgia (August 7, 2026) - The GBI has arrested and charged former Polk County Police Department Officer Tracey Royston, age 51, of Cedartown, Georgia, with four misdemeanor counts of Misuse of a License Plate Reader System. Royston was previously detached to the Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, which is managed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

On July 31, 2026, the Polk County Police Department requested the GBI to investigate allegations of misuse of the Cedartown Police Department (CPD) Flock Safety System. Due to her status as a task force agent, Royston had access to the CPD Flock Safety System. Preliminary information indicates that Royston accessed the Flock system multiple times between 2024 and 2025 for non-law enforcement purposes.

Royston was arrested on August 7, 2026, and booked into the Polk County Jail.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the GBI Tipline at 800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile application.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Contact

Special Agent in Charge Dustin Hamby

[email protected]