Chandler is shutting down its network of 40 Flock automated license plate readers after a routine audit detected possible misuse by a police department employee, ending a program city officials credited with helping investigate thousands of cases.
Police Chief Bryan Chapman said about 200 department users were immediately locked out of the system after a routine audit flagged an activity pattern that could not be explained by normal police work, KTAR News reported. Chapman said an internal investigation will determine what occurred and whether discipline is warranted. He declined to identify the employee or describe the search, but said an initial review found no resident or member of the public had their privacy compromised.
Chandler launched a 14-camera pilot in March 2024 and expanded to 40 cameras in May 2025, according to the city’s announcement. The city will not renew its service agreement, and Flock, which owns the cameras and poles, will remove the equipment.
Chapman remained supportive of the technology, saying it aided more than 2,000 cases, including stolen-vehicle recoveries and searches for missing dementia patients. He acknowledged ending the system would slow some investigations. Flock said the incident shows its audit controls worked as intended, arguing the same safeguards that detected the anomaly provide accountability.
Chandler’s withdrawal comes as other Arizona jurisdictions reassess Flock. Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple recently announced he would not renew his contract, citing Fourth Amendment concerns, while Flagstaff, Sedona and South Tucson have ended agreements.
Chandler said it may revisit license plate reader technology only after revising policies, adding audit procedures and reporting requirements, and receiving City Council approval through a public process. The employee investigation remains open, and no finding of intentional misuse has been announced.
