A former Northwest Georgia police officer has been arrested following a GBI investigation into allegations that she improperly accessed a law enforcement license plate reader system.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says former Polk County Police Department Officer Tracey Royston, 51, of Cedartown, was arrested Friday, August 7, and charged with four misdemeanor counts of Misuse of a License Plate Reader System.

Royston had previously been assigned to the Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, which is managed by the GBI.

According to investigators, the Polk County Police Department requested the GBI investigation on July 31 after allegations surfaced involving misuse of the Cedartown Police Department’s Flock Safety System.

Because of her status as a task force agent, Royston had access to the system. Preliminary information from the GBI indicates she accessed the Flock system multiple times between 2024 and 2025 for purposes unrelated to law enforcement.

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

The GBI says the investigation remains active and ongoing. Once completed, the case will be turned over to the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Anyone with information concerning the investigation is encouraged to contact the GBI.

All charges are accusations, and Royston is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.