Nathan Taylortaft, a Chandler resident and co-director of the group East Valley Unite argued the cameras represent a violation of residents’ constitutional rights. The group has been organizing residents Chandler, Tempe, Apache Junction and Queen Creek to call for removing automated license plate readers like Flock’s.
Flock camera networks capture bumper stickers, makes, models and provide enough contextual information to create a generalized surveillance network, Taylortaft said.
Queen Creek’s has had its Flock camera network in place since 2022. Brice said the cameras have been instrumental in finding stolen cars, solving hit-and-run cases, and finding missing people.
The town’s camera network has assisted in 3,794 incidents between 2025 and 2026, Brice said.
Several council members said the new rules strike a balance between resident concerns about surveillance and the police department’s ability to fight crime.
Councilmember Leah Martineau, who also serves as a program coordinator at the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network, spoke about the technology’s usefulness at finding kidnapped teenagers.
Martineau said she was willing to keep listening to resident concerns, but felt it was unwise to throw out the whole over what she called a “knee jerk reaction” to moves by other Valley cities.
Mayor Julia Wheatley said she understood residents’ concerns while adding that those concerns helped guide Chief Brice and the Council to put the proper safeguards in place.
Wheatley framed the new rules as a proactive step the town was taking to prevent abuse of the system while making sure police have the tools they need to fight crime.