Board Chair and District 3 Supervisor Frank Antenori, together with Sheriff Mark Dannels, announced that they will ask other Cochise County Board members to support their decision not to install Flock Safety license plate reader cameras. The officials cited concerns about privacy, long-term data retention, and the implications of surveillance technologies.
Antenori explained that while some municipalities and law enforcement agencies in Arizona and across the country are using grant funding for automated license plate reader systems, Cochise County leaders have decided not to use Flock Safety as a vendor. They said this choice reflects local values and priorities.
“Once surveillance infrastructure is in place, it rarely goes away,” Antenori said. “I have concerns about privacy, mission creep and how data collected today could be used or retained in the future by Flock. I met with the Sheriff’s office leadership to discuss my concerns and together we agreed to assess other vendors in our approach.”
Flock Safety cameras capture images of vehicle license plates and other identifying features for later search and analysis. Although these systems are promoted as tools against crime, critics have questioned oversight, access controls, and data retention practices.
“Public safety and public trust go hand in hand,” said Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels. “Our office uses investigative tools that are targeted, lawful, and appropriate to specific cases.”
The Board of Supervisors approved a $54,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs in October 2025 for Flock cameras. However, the Sheriff plans to request an amendment so the county can consider other options instead of Flock Safety. The revised grant description will then go before the Board for approval.
“This isn’t about being anti-technology or anti-law enforcement,” Antenori said. “It’s about being cautious stewards of both taxpayer dollars and civil liberties. We don’t believe mass data collection should become normalized without very clear limits and accountability.”
Sheriff Dannels stated that county law enforcement agencies will continue working with neighboring jurisdictions as well as state and federal partners using established investigative methods.
“We respect that other agencies make decisions based on their operational needs,” Dannels said. “Our focus remains on effective policing, strong partnerships and maintaining the confidence of the people we serve.”
Antenori has called for a work session with fellow supervisors Tom Crosby (District 1) and Kathleen Gomez (District 2) in early February to further discuss these issues.
