Chandler, AZ Ends Flock License Plate Reader Program After Audit Flags Potential Police Misuse

The City of Chandler, Arizona, is ending its use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers after a routine audit uncovered potential misuse of the system by someone within the Chandler Police Department.

The city announced Friday that it will discontinue its use of all 40 fixed-camera automated license plate readers provided by Flock Group Inc. and will no longer pursue renewal of its agreement with the company.

The decision came less than a week before the Chandler City Council was scheduled to consider renewing the contract on Aug. 13. The vote had previously been postponed from May and then July amid questions from council members and opposition from some residents over privacy and data-sharing concerns surrounding the cameras. ABC15 reported in July that the renewal had been withdrawn from the July 16 agenda and rescheduled for August.

According to the City of Chandler, a routine audit identified what officials described as “an anomaly in the use of the Flock system that could not be explained through standard police action.” The city said an investigation is underway to determine whether the system was used improperly and whether disciplinary action is warranted.

Chandler Police Chief Bryan Chapman told FOX 10 Phoenix that investigators had identified “a potential misuse of the system by somebody in our organization.”

Chapman said access to the system was immediately restricted for all Chandler Police Department employees while the investigation continues.

“All of the employees at the Chandler Police Department have had their access to the Flock system restricted effective immediately,” Chapman told FOX 10.

City officials have not publicly identified the employee involved or disclosed the nature of the activity that triggered the audit.

Chandler said its initial review determined that no Chandler resident or other member of the public had their privacy compromised. The city said it nevertheless considers any potential misuse serious and will continue investigating the incident.

The audit mechanism that identified the activity is part of Flock’s internal accountability system. According to Flock Safety, its Audit Assistance tool is designed to identify atypical activity for review by agencies. The company says searches conducted through its system are logged and associated with individual users.

In a statement provided to FOX 10, Flock said it was disappointed by Chandler’s decision while arguing that the discovery demonstrated the purpose of the company’s auditing tools. Flock said the system flagged activity that could indicate misuse and allowed the city to investigate it.

The company said it believes it could again compete to provide license plate reader technology to Chandler if the city adopts additional policies and safeguards.

Chandler officials likewise left open the possibility of using automated license plate readers in the future. The city said it plans to consider revised policies, additional auditing procedures and new reporting requirements governing the technology. If those protections are approved by the City Council, Chandler could issue a request for proposals from vendors.

Flock’s license plate readers collect images of license plates along with vehicle characteristics, timestamps and camera locations. The company says its system does not use facial recognition and that license plate reader data is deleted after 30 days by default unless local law or contractual requirements provide otherwise. Flock also says agencies control user access and data-sharing settings, while searches are recorded for auditing purposes.

Chandler began using Flock’s fixed-camera readers as part of a pilot program in March 2024, initially installing 14 cameras. The city expanded its agreement to 40 cameras in May 2025.

The technology had become the subject of increasing public debate in Chandler before Friday’s decision. During a May City Council meeting, roughly 40 people spoke against continuing the city’s relationship with Flock, according to KJZZ. Council members subsequently postponed consideration of the contract.

The decision follows growing scrutiny of Flock technology in Arizona and nationwide. As California Globe previously reported, Chandler police said their license plate readers generated 556 stolen-vehicle notifications, helped recover 16 vehicles and contributed to 39 arrests between July 2025 and April 2026. The same reporting found nearly 40,000 searches of Chandler’s data by outside law-enforcement agencies during January alone, while allegations of improper access have surfaced elsewhere in the country, including Georgia, where officers have faced arrests and disciplinary action over alleged misuse of automated license plate reader systems.

Chapman said the loss of the cameras will reduce some of the department’s investigative capabilities while emphasizing that automated license plate readers are one component of the technology used by Chandler police.

The cameras and mounting poles remain the property of Flock. Chandler said the company will remove all 40 installations as quickly as possible after the city’s access to the system is terminated.