Queen Creek increases security, oversight of license-plate readers

While some Valley municipalities have done away with automated license-plate readers amid public outcries, Queen Creek is instead adding measures to bring more security and oversight to its use of such cameras and the data generated from them.

During its Wednesday meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council unanimously voted to enhance safeguards already in place that oversee access to the cameras’ data, conduct audits and ensure data-sharing is limited to Arizona law-enforcement agencies.

To enhance accountability over access and use of the data, the town is making it a misdemeanor to misuse the technology.

“Access also comes with a responsibility to protect that data and that information,” Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice said. “The code that we’re proposing tonight would restrict the access, use, dissemination, processing — whatever it might be — to the people that are allowed to be in the network but for an authorized purpose only.”

QCPD currently has 62 fixed ALPR cameras, with 47 contracted through Flock Security and the remaining 15 cameras provided by Axon at no cost during a test phase.

In 2025, the department used ALPR information in 2,131 incidents or investigations, and 1,663 incidents or investigations this year through Aug. 11, according to a staff report.

“These uses included accidents and hit-and-run investigations, theft and stolen-property offenses, assaults, traffic and vehicle-enforcement matters, missing-person investigations, behavioral-health and welfare incidents, motor-vehicle thefts, DUI investigations, burglaries, weapons offenses, robberies, warrant activity, and other criminal and public-safety matters,” the report continued.

Fueling the nationwide concern over who has access are incidents in which police officers have used the data for personal use that has, in some cases, escalated into crimes.

Brice said the department’s audits have not shown unauthorized use of the data, but under the new safeguards, QCPD will do more frequent audits, including an annual one for the town council.

“Annual is the minimum because we’re going to provide a report back to council on an annual basis per the code, but we’re going to be doing audits much more regularly — weekly, monthly, quarterly depending on the capability of the systems,” Brice said. “It is a continuous process, not a one-and-done.”

If data is accessed and used for unofficial purposes, not only will offenders face a misdemeanor charge, but they could face more serious charges if any additional crimes are uncovered during the course of the initial investigation.

“We also may discover that somebody may have had other (uses) such as stalking, computer tampering, identity theft, aggravated harassment, which are more serious felonies, so there may be additional charging or we may charge the higher crimes with the county attorney on in superior court rather than a local misdemeanor,” Brice said.

Another public concern is how police departments are sharing the data. Brice has emphasized the department does not share information with federal agencies such as the FBI or ICE.

“At the end of the day, this is a tool we use. We use it as a lead; we still have to access and make sure that it’s reliable. We have to confirm material facts. We have to establish a legal basis. We have to have reasonable suspicion, probable cause, all of those things that our PD has to make sure when they’re investigating something,” Mayor Julia Wheatley said. “(QCOD) are helping us to continue to keep that information safe and secure and only in the hands of those that are trusted and trained.”

Other municipalities across the Valley are taking a more hard-line approach to the cameras.

On Aug. 7, Chandler announced it was ending its contract with Flock amid what Chandler Police Chief Bryan Chapman said was suspected misuse or unauthorized use of the system “within our department.”

Surprise, Cave Creek and Tempe are also canceling their contracts with Flock.

Beyond the Valley, the Pinal County has canceled its Flock contracts in unincorporated areas.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.