Tempe confirms Flock camera contract cancellation

1 September 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

Tempe officials reaffirmed the city's decision to cancel its Flock Safety contract and disable the associated cameras, citing privacy concerns. The announcement came during a city council meeting on September 1, 2026, one week after the cancellation was initially announced.

Some residents expressed concern when they noticed an agenda item suggesting the city might enter into a contract with Axon, a Scottsdale-based automatic license plate reader company. Tempe maintains an existing relationship with Axon for police equipment. Mayor Corey Woods clarified that the agenda item referencing Axon was an administrative error and did not reflect the city's intent to pivot toward a different ALPR system.

The cancellation decision marks a reversal from Tempe's use of Flock cameras for license plate recognition. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about ALPR technology's surveillance capabilities and data retention practices. The city's choice to disable the system comes amid broader scrutiny of automated surveillance tools in Arizona municipalities.

Residents in other Arizona communities can check their own city council meeting minutes and agendas to determine whether any ALPR contracts are under review or renewal and what privacy policies govern their use.

Read the original reporting: The Daily Independent at YourValley.net.