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Tempe Ends $80,000 Deal
The backlash against Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers reached two Phoenix-area suburbs in August, with Tempe announcing it would end its $80,000 contract and turn off its cameras after reports of data “misuse” in other regions.
“The city of Tempe, which had an$80,000 contract”
Tempe said “The cameras are no longer collecting license plate data, and Tempe will not seek another company to replace the system,” and the city framed the move as a response to the “risk of misuse” being “too great.”
Three hours later, Cave Creek terminated its agreement with Flock and removed the technology, writing that “any local policy or safeguards could not extend beyond the Town’s jurisdiction” because FLOCK’s networked design allows data to be shared and accessed by external law enforcement agencies.
The Hill reported that more than 90 cities had made moves to cancel or reject Flock ALPRs as of Wednesday, while Ars Technica said Secure Justice recorded 214 cities and counties that have dropped Flock since 2021 and that 90 ended their relationship with Flock in August 2026 alone.
Sheboygan Covers Cameras
In Sheboygan, Wisconsin, city staff covered all 15 Flock cameras so they would no longer collect license plate data while the Common Council worked through the termination process.
The Sheboygan Police Department and city administrator said the cameras were covered to "prevent the collection of vehicle license plate data," and the release said the cameras had been in operation since early 2024.
Sheboygan Mayor Ryan Sorenson addressed concerns about “inconsistent” actions by Flock Safety, saying “when we're making sure that we use databases that collect data, that it's not being used for other purposes.”
Police Chief Zempel acknowledged the technology’s impact, saying Flock Safety's technology "has been instrumental in removing violent offenders from our community and recovering stolen vehicles and other property," while also stating ending the relationship was “necessary at this time.”
Policy, Oversight, and Disputes
Across the country, officials and advocates have pointed to privacy and oversight concerns tied to Flock’s networked ALPR system, with The Independent saying critics argue the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment and that there have been reports of misuse to stalk partners or exes.
“violates the Fourth Amendment”
In a statement about Tempe’s decision, the city said “But the risk of misuse is too great. We have to be able to provide public safety in a way that maintains the trust of our community,” while The Hill reported that Flock’s spokesperson told the outlet that taking the tool away “does not make a community safer.”
The Hill also described policy changes Flock announced amid lawsuits, including an “Audit Assistance” feature and a “proactive lockout” feature that automatically suspends access to Flock data if a user’s activity meets a threshold for abnormal behavior pending administrator review.
Ars Technica added that Secure Justice’s data showed a sharp acceleration in August, quoting Brian Hofer saying “Looking at that image, it’s gone parabolic!” and noting that Flock CEO Garrett Langley wrote that Flock would reduce data retention defaults from 30 days to seven.