Which Arizona cities, counties, law enforcement agencies have stopped using Flock cameras?

In response to privacy concerns and investigations into potential misuse of Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers, some governmental and law enforcement organizations in metro Phoenix are reconsidering the technology.

The company partners with 5,000 law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to install and maintain its ALPR cameras, according to Flock Safety’s website. The AI-powered cameras automatically take photos of vehicles, converting those images into searchable data, including vehicle details and location information, all of which is stored in a cloud-based system.

Here’s where officials are ending contracts, restricting data sharing or raising concerns.

Tempe keeps Flock cameras but stops sharing data

Tempe has stopped automatically sharing its license plate reader data with other law enforcement agencies, although police will continue using the cameras. The city also launched a public transparency portal and plans to seek new vendor bids when its current contract ends.

Police said regular audits, including the most recent review, have found no misuse. The cameras are primarily used in stolen-vehicle, hit-and-run, missing person cases and other criminal investigations.

Apache Junction Police Department puts new restrictions in place after misuse

An Apache Junction officer resigned after an internal investigation found he misused Flock license plate readers to locate his wife during a dispute.

The department now requires supervisory approval for searches not tied to active cases and reviews weekly Flock audits for potential misuse.

Chandler ends Flock contract after audit flags possible misuse

Chandler will not renew its Flock contract and has blocked police personnel from accessing the system after an audit identified possible employee misuse. An internal investigation is underway, though officials said no member of the public had their privacy compromised.

The department had 40 cameras and credited the system with helping in more than 2,000 cases. Flock will remove the equipment.

Pinal County sheriff cites Fourth Amendment concerns

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office will let its Flock contract expire at the end of September. Sheriff Ross Teeple said the cameras’ broader surveillance capabilities could threaten residents’ Fourth Amendment rights.

The decision affects only cameras in unincorporated Pinal County, not those operated by cities such as Maricopa and Casa Grande. Teeple acknowledged that the technology has helped with alerts and anti-smuggling investigations but said residents’ concerns warranted ending the contract.

In response to Pinal County’s decision, Maricopa residents plan to rally Sept. 1 outside Maricopa City Hall to urge city officials to follow suit and cut ties with Flock Safety.

Sierra Vista no longer has a Flock contract for license plate readers

The contract between the city of Sierra Vista and Flock Safety officially ended on April 2, 2026, according to KGUN9.

City of South Tucson cuts ties with surveillance company

On Feb. 17, 2026, the South Tucson City Council voted to end its agreement with Flock Safety and remove the company’s automated license plate reader cameras from across the city, according to Tucson Spotlight, which noted that it wasn’t a unanimous vote.

Flagstaff City Council ends contract with Flock Safety

The Flagstaff City Council voted on Dec. 16, 2025, to end its contract with Flock Safety. The decision came after the Flagstaff Police Department tightened its policies, removing itself from national and statewide data-sharing networks, barring the use of ALPR data for immigration enforcement and cutting its data retention period from 30 days to 14.

“So far to date, there have been no misuses of our system. It’s been solely used for victims of crime in our community,” said Collin Seay, deputy chief of operations for the Flagstaff Police Department, during the meeting.

Despite the city ending its use of Flock cameras, KNAU reported that Northern Arizona University, state agencies and some private businesses still operate the cameras in and around Flagstaff.

Sedona City Council votes to drop its contract with Flock Safety

On Sept. 9, 2025, the Sedona City Council unanimously voted to cancel its contract for automated license plate readers and remove them.

“The public has told us overwhelmingly they don’t want them,” Councilmember Derek Pfaff said.

Councilmember Pete Furman said officials had failed to consider the broader policy implications of collecting and storing data on people not suspected of crimes.

The full discussion is available on the city’s website beginning at the 2:23:01 mark.

Related

Flock official defends cameras as Arizona agencies rethink contractsApache Junction officer resigns after misusing Flock cameras for personal reasonsChandler drops Flock license plate reader cameras after audit flags potential misuseArizona sheriff cancels Flock camera contract, citing Fourth Amendment worriesTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Trump admin ‘laser-focused’ on Arizona semiconductorsPhoenix mayor says TSMC’s $265 billion investment is historic on multiple levels