Documented Incident
Pinal County sheriff tells Senate panel Flock gave him inaccurate answers about AI cameras
Event: September 23, 2026 · First reported: September 28, 2026 · 6 sources
Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, alleging that Flock Safety engaged in "disinformation ... and dishonesty" when he sought answers about its license plate readers. Teeple said a company representative initially told him newer cameras could not capture images detailed enough to identify individuals and did not use AI, claims he says he later found inaccurate. Teeple announced Aug. 5 that he would end the county's Flock contract, and the Pinal County Board of Supervisors ratified the termination on Aug. 12. Flock responded to press inquiries by pointing to an Aug. 6 letter from its director of public trust and technology, Max Weinstein, which stated that it is "a common misconception" that fixed ALPR cameras violate the Fourth Amendment.
A sitting Republican sheriff publicly disputing a vendor's technical representations shifts the ALPR debate beyond privacy advocates and raises questions about what agencies are told before signing surveillance contracts.
Key facts
- Pinal County was the first Arizona county to end its Flock contract; the sheriff announced the decision Aug. 5 and supervisors ratified it Aug. 12.
- Teeple cited Fourth Amendment concerns but said the county still uses non-Flock plate readers on anti-smuggling vehicles and trailers; Casa Grande and other Pinal cities still use Flock.
- Sen. Josh Hawley invited the CEOs of Flock, Axon, Motorola Solutions and Verkada; none of the companies sent a representative.
- DeFlock, a group tracking ALPRs, counts more than 1,700 cameras in the Valley and says more than 150 jurisdictions nationwide have canceled contracts or halted installation plans.
- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced in August a review of Flock and similar technology; the Arizona Senate killed a data-access restriction bill in March, and at least four ALPR bills have been introduced in the U.S. House this year.
Timeline
- September 28, 2026Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras
- September 28, 2026Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras
- October 14, 2026Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras (Myheraldreview, September 28, 2026)
- Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras (Arizona Daily Sun, September 28, 2026)
- Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of 'dishonesty' about its cameras (The Daily Independent At Yourvalley.net, September 26, 2026)
- Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras (Arizona Capitol Times, September 28, 2026)
- Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras (Cronkite News, September 25, 2026)
- Pinal County sheriff accuses Flock of ‘dishonesty’ about its cameras (Yuma Sun, October 14, 2026)
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About this record
BlockFlockNow documents reported incidents involving Flock Safety cameras and automated license plate readers: council votes, contract decisions, misuse by authorized users, lawsuits, audits, and community response. Every record is reviewed by a person before publication. New to the topic? Start with What is Flock?, find meetings near you, or learn how to request your town's camera records.
Updated October 15, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.