Documented Incident
Tempe police halt Flock data sharing as three other Arizona cities respond to misuse findings
First reported: August 12, 2026 · 8 sources
The Tempe Police Department says it has stopped sharing data collected by its Flock Safety license plate readers, citing community privacy concerns and recent incidents involving the technology. Tempe officials say the department will still respond to requests from other Arizona law enforcement agencies that go through what it describes as the appropriate process. The change comes as Chandler ends its Flock contract following an internal audit that flagged potential misuse by a department employee, an Apache Junction officer resigned after an internal investigation found he used reader data to locate his wife, and Goodyear placed an officer on leave after a July audit.
Four departments in the same metro area are adjusting or ending ALPR practices within a short span, showing how internal audits and individual misuse cases can drive policy change on data sharing.
Key facts
- Tempe police say they have stopped sharing Flock camera data, citing privacy concerns and recent incidents.
- Tempe says it will still process information requests from other Arizona agencies through established procedures.
- Chandler is ending its Flock contract after an internal audit revealed potential misuse by a department employee.
- An Apache Junction officer resigned after an internal investigation found he used reader data to locate his wife.
- Goodyear says a July audit led to an officer being placed on leave.
Timeline
- August 12, 2026This metro Phoenix city is changing the way it uses Flock camera data
- August 11, 2026Tempe tightens access to Flock data: Here’s why police made the move
- August 14, 2026Tempe Loses automatic Flock Safety license plate data sharing
Sources
This summary was written from the published reporting below and links to it; BlockFlockNow does not reproduce article text.
- This metro Phoenix city is changing the way it uses Flock camera data (KJZZ, August 12, 2026)
- Tempe tightens access to Flock data: Here’s why police made the move (AZ Family, August 11, 2026)
- Tempe Loses automatic Flock Safety license plate data sharing (Headtopics, August 14, 2026)
- Tempe PD ends all Flock license reader data sharing over privacy concerns (yourvalley.net, August 11, 2026)
- Tempe to stop sharing Flock camera data after controversy (The Arizona Republic, August 11, 2026)
- Tempe ends license plate reader data sharing with Flock (Fox 10 Phoenix, August 11, 2026)
- Tempe ends Flock camera data sharing amid privacy concerns (Arizona's Family, August 11, 2026)
- Tempe ends automatic Flock camera data sharing and launches transparency portal amid surveillance concerns (ABC15 Arizona, August 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 August 19, 2026. Corrections: blockflock@bytebunny.io. See all documented incidents or search the full article archive.