A Chesterfield County Police Department employee has been arrested for misusing the county’s Automatic License Plate Reader System contracted through Flock Safety — which has made headlines throughout 2026 following privacy concerns and questions over the security of its data. 

A county press release didn’t provide details about the misuse. A police department spokesperson said they wouldn’t discuss an ongoing case.

The employee in question is Rebekkah Robinson. She’s not a police officer, but rather a professional staff Intelligence Investigator.  She has been charged with two counts of computer invasion of privacy and two counts of improper use of the cameras by law enforcement.

According to a county press release, Robinson’s colleagues expressed concerns about her behavior to department leadership on Aug. 27. An ensuing audit uncovered suspicious enough activity to warrant her being placed on administrative leave without pay.

“We remain committed to transparency and will provide additional information as allowed by law once the internal investigation is completed,” the release reads.

Virginia code prohibits using these automatic license plate reader cameras for reasons outside of investigations and finding missing persons. 

In Chesterfield County, the cameras can’t be used to “conduct unjustifiable or unaudited searches,” per an Aug. 18 YouTube video. CCPD guidelines say the department’s Investigations Support Unit carries oversight responsibilities.

Flock in the news

On Sept. 30, a James City County police officer was similarly charged with five felony counts of computer invasion of privacy, three misdemeanor counts of computer invasion of privacy and five misdemeanor counts of improper use of the license plate readers by law enforcement.

Chesterfield’s $225,000 contract with Flock Safety runs from 2023 to 2029, and covers 88 cameras, though there may be ways for the county to remove itself from the contract through the budget process if the Board of Supervisors withholds funding from the contract.

Flock cameras are also currently used in Richmond, Henrico and Hanover. However, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula recently called on the city to “reevaluate our relationship with Flock.”

Several Virginia localities — such as neighboring Goochland County — have indicated they will end their contract with Flock.

Contact Eleanor Shaw at eshaw@richmonder.org. She is a Report for America corps member.