Scottsdale mayor requests council review of Flock camera program

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

Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky requested that the city council review the municipality's Flock license plate reader program, citing resident feedback. An agenda item scheduled for the Scottsdale City Council meeting on Tuesday could lead to further council action on the system. Borowsky stated that resident response to the technology has been overwhelmingly negative, though she described herself as undecided on the program's future. The police chief provided the mayor with a memo summarizing the department's checks and balances for the system's use.

Flock cameras arrived in Scottsdale in 2023, and the city currently operates 85 units. The deployment represents part of a broader expansion of automatic license plate reader technology across Arizona and the nation. The Scottsdale Police Department has defended the system as an effective investigative tool, noting its role in cases involving murder investigations, human trafficking, missing persons, and stolen vehicle recovery. Department policy includes retention limits and oversight mechanisms according to a spokesperson.

If the council votes to move forward with a full review, a presentation and discussion of the entire ALPR program is scheduled for the October 20 council meeting. Residents concerned about license plate reader contracts in their own cities can check municipal council agendas and request records on data retention policies and oversight procedures through public records requests.

Read the original reporting: azfamily.com.