Tempe and Cave Creek drop Flock cameras as Hawley opens probe
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Tempe, Arizona, shut down its Flock automated license plate readers on Wednesday, citing civil liberties risks despite monthly audits showing no misuse. Nearby Cave Creek followed hours later, and Senator Josh Hawley opened a formal investigation into the company.
Key Facts
- Tempe's contract with Flock was worth $80,000, and its cameras will remain in place until Flock removes them, though data collection has stopped.
- Tempe cut off automatic data sharing with other law enforcement agencies earlier in August and launched a public transparency portal, which will now be discontinued.
- Senator Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, opened a formal investigation into Flock on Wednesday, while independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders pledged to introduce legislation against the company.
- Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said the cameras helped police do their jobs but that the risk of misuse was too great to maintain community trust.
City Decisions
Tempe's police department had used Flock's cameras to help solve crimes, and the city said its own monthly audits turned up no misuse. Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said in a statement that the cameras helped police officers do their jobs, but the risk of misuse was too great to maintain community trust. Tempe Councilmember Bobby Nichols said any law enforcement tool used by the city must not pose a risk of infringing on residents' civil liberties. The city's contract with Flock was worth $80,000, and its cameras will remain in place until Flock removes them, though they have stopped collecting data. Tempe already cut off automatic data sharing with other law enforcement agencies earlier in August and launched a public transparency portal, which will now be discontinued.
Federal Response
On Wednesday, Senator Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, opened a formal investigation into Flock. Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders posted a lengthy statement pledging to introduce legislation against the company. The same day, the blue-leaning city of Tempe turned off its Flock automated license plate readers and said it would not seek another company to replace the system. Three hours later, the nearby red-leaning town of Cave Creek did the same.
Flock Response
A Flock spokesperson told Fortune that police departments across the country solve countless serious crimes and make a measurable public safety impact with Flock technology, including in Tempe. The spokesperson said removing a tool that helps solve violent crimes, locate suspects, and find missing people means public safety moves backward, with cases taking longer to solve and organized retail theft crews operating with fewer obstacles. The spokesperson added that misuse of Flock's technology is unacceptable, and that every search is logged and reviewed through the company's Audit Assistance tool, which flags unusual activity for administrators to review.
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Tempe and Cave Creek drop Flock cameras as Hawley opens probe
