Tempe mayor pushes to cancel Flock cameras

28 August 2026.

Tempe’s mayor moved to cancel the city’s Flock Safety camera contract, according to reporting from The Hill. The mayor’s push to end the arrangement represents a shift in the city’s approach to automated license plate reader technology, which the city had previously deployed through its agreement with Flock Safety. The move comes as scrutiny of ALPR programs continues across the country, with concerns raised about data privacy, surveillance scope, and community oversight of camera deployments. Officials considering similar technology in their own jurisdictions should review their city’s existing agreements, any performance data collected under current contracts, and the process required to modify or terminate vendor relationships.

Mayor’s Announcement Date

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods officially announced the city’s decision to shut down the cameras and terminate the contract on August 26, 2026, citing that the “risk of misuse was too great”. Mayor Woods reaffirmed this stance during the August 31, 2026 City Council meeting, clarifying that an agenda item mentioning automated license plate readers (ALPR) from Axon was a clerical error and confirming the city is abandoning ALPR technology entirely.

Initial Contract Date, Camera Count, and Cost

• First Contracted: Tempe first entered into an agreement with Flock Safety in 2021 (starting with 10 cameras). The contract was subsequently modified and renewed to run through September 2027 prior to early termination.
• Total Cameras Installed: 33 cameras were actively deployed across Tempe at the time of the shutdown.
• Cost to the City: The agreement was an ~$80,000 annual contract. City financial disclosures showed an annual payment exceeding $89,000 in July 2025, alongside smaller supplemental fees (such as $2,750 for installation and $10,250 annually for live-video-capable units added in February 2025).

City Council Vote, Effective Date, and Termination Provisions

• Council Vote on Cancellation: The City Council did not hold a formal roll-call vote to approve the cancellation. The action was executed as an administrative and executive decision announced directly by the Mayor and city administration. While the topic dominated public comment at the August 31, 2026 council meeting, no vote was taken to reverse the decision.
• Effective Date: August 26, 2026. The camera network was powered down immediately upon the announcement; data collection ceased that day, existing records were scheduled for automatic deletion after 30 days (unless tied to active investigations), and Flock was notified to physically remove the hardware.
• Early Termination Provisions: Yes, the contract included termination provisions allowing the city to exit before the September 2027 expiration date. Tempe’s agreement stipulates that upon termination, all use of Flock services immediately ceases, and the city invoked its early exit rights without completing the multi-year term.

Read the original reporting: The Hill.