Sierra Vista Police Address Privacy Concerns with Flock Cameras

The Sierra Vista Police Department is clarifying its use of Flock Safety license-plate-reading cameras.

In an effort to promote transparency and help the public understand the use of the camera system, a press release from the City of Sierra Vista announced they launchhing of the new Flock Safety transparency portal.

With this resource, Sierra Vista residents can gain insight into how the technology operates, including what data the system collects and what it does not.

Clarifying the Use of Flock Cameras: Sierra Vista City Council Meeting

At a recent city council meeting, Sheriff Mark Dannels and Police Chief Chris Hiser addressed public concerns about the Flock Camera System and its use in law enforcement. They also invited a Flock company representative to explain the technology.

Then, members of the public were invited to give their feedback. Taking to the lectern, several private citizens voiced their concerns about the use of the Flock Camera System. They expressed opinions on potential privacy issues, the cameras’ possible role in public surveillance, and how the data could be used to collect personally identifiable information (PII).

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Frank Antenori of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors spoke. He admitted that the board approved the grant to purchase the camera system. He then stated that none of the board members had read the grant text before approving the public purchase.

Now that he’s read the grant and researched the Flock Camera system, he stated that the technology “scares the bejeezus” out of him.

RELATED: Cochise County Debates Flock License Plate Cameras

Promoting Transparency: The Flock Camera Portal in Sierra Vista

The City of Sierra Vista introduced the Flock Camera System Transparency Portal to promote public openness. The press release says the portal shows "what the ALPR cameras detect and what they do not detect.”

To address privacy concerns about the technology, the city demonstrates which law enforcement agencies have access to data in Sierra Vista. Users of the portal can find explanations of system activity, such as how long data is stored and the number of vehicles detected each month.

The portal also tracks statistical data, like how often the cameras are used to locate stolen vehicles or assist with missing-person alerts.

READ: An Open Letter Out of State Citizens in Arizona

Sierra Vista’s Unique Take on Transparency

Not every city offers this level of openness. With the public pushback, the city is trying to address the criticism.

Across the country, ALPR systems have faced objections from privacy advocates, who say that long-term data retention can create detailed records of people’s movements.

Groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have called for this kind of public transparency so residents know what is being collected and why. The Urban Institute has also said that dashboards like this can help build trust when towns use surveillance tools.

Addressing Concerns

Officials in Sierra Vista opened the topic for discussion rather than simply responding to criticism. The portal includes departmental policies that explain who can access the data and how investigative “hot lists” are created. Many cities would require a public records request to get this kind of detail.

The City of Sierra Vista invited residents to voice their opinions during a recent City Council work session. See the entire session posted on YouTube from City of Sierra Vista Streaming.