Highlights
- Cottonwood suspended Flock license plate reader use effective immediately following resident pushback.
- The city manager and police chief jointly decided the community discord warranted a pause pending council review.
- A City Council work session on the technology is scheduled for Sept. 22 at the Riverfront Council Chambers.
- Cottonwood joins Tempe, Chandler, and Pinal County among Arizona jurisdictions that have stepped back from Flock.
Cottonwood has deactivated its Flock Safety license plate readers effective immediately, the city announced Friday, making it the latest Arizona municipality to pause the technology amid statewide scrutiny of how police departments deploy automated surveillance systems.
City officials said the suspension followed discussions between the city manager and police chief about the level of discord the issue was generating in the community. "It has been determined that it would be best to suspend the use of this technology at this time," the city said in a written statement, adding that the pause will remain until the City Council can make an informed decision on appropriate use. The Cottonwood Police Department said it is gathering information for a comprehensive presentation and has notified Flock of the suspension; the department may also physically cover the cameras, though they have already stopped operating.
A City Council work session on Flock license plate readers is scheduled for Sept. 22 at the Riverfront Council Chambers. One local group, Fight The Flock Cottonwood, has been vocal in pushing for public discussion about the technology, according to Arizona's Family, which first reported the suspension.
Why is Cottonwood pausing Flock now?
The city cited mounting concern from residents and a determination by the city manager and police chief that suspending the cameras was the appropriate step before the council weighs in. The suspension will remain in place until the City Council makes an informed decision on the appropriate use of the technology in Cottonwood.
Cottonwood's move follows similar actions by Tempe, Chandler, and Pinal County, which chose not to renew its Flock contract. Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced her office will take a closer look at how police departments statewide use Flock Safety cameras and similar license plate reader systems following reports of misuse. Some cities dropping Flock are turning to competitor Axon for license plate readers, which also fall under the attorney general's review, Arizona's Family reported. The Sept. 22 work session is the next decision point.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 05/09/2026 19:46
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 05/09/2026 19:46. Every claim traces to a source.
