A former Jackson police officer has been indicted on a federal cyberstalking charge after an internal investigation found she used police technology and databases for purposes unrelated to law enforcement, according to the Jackson Police Department.
A federal grand jury indicted Najwa Zandlo, a former JPD patrol officer, following an investigation by JPD and the FBI. FBI agents took her into custody the morning of Oct. 16. Court records cited by WBBJ allege she harassed and intimidated another person using electronic communication from about Nov. 24, 2024 until about Oct. 16, 2026. Zandlo appeared in court the following Tuesday. An indictment is an accusation, and she is presumed innocent unless convicted.
How the case unfolded
JPD said a citizen filed a formal complaint about her conduct in October 2025. She was placed on administrative leave and an internal investigation began. The department said Zandlo resigned in lieu of termination before her scheduled disciplinary hearing. The matter went to the FBI, and the District Attorney General's office and the U.S. Attorney's office jointly reviewed it before it went to the grand jury. JPD says it will ask the state's peace officer standards commission to revoke her certification.
Chief Thom Corley said constitutional policing is a foundational pillar at JPD and that officers are expected to meet high standards.
License plate reader policy
WBBJ reported that JPD described its policy for license plate reader technology after the indictment. Access is allowed only on city-owned devices by officers who complete approved training, and officers are barred from searching family members, former partners or personal associates. Before acting on an alert, officers must confirm the plate and state visually, check the source and verify through dispatch or crime databases that the alert is still active.
Corley said access requires supervisory approval, supervisors audit their staff every two weeks, and the department's professional standards unit audits access monthly. He said the cameras help with missing children, wanted people and stolen vehicles, and that a car whose tag is not tied to a crime or missing person does not trigger an alert.
The reports do not say what technology was involved in the alleged conduct.
Sources: WBBJ, NBC 39, Jackson Police Department statements as reported by WBBJ