Cochise County leaders, Sheriff Mark Dannels and Board Chair Frank Antenori, have decided against installing Flock Safety license plate reader cameras due to concerns over privacy, data misuse, and governmental overreach. Antenori stated, "Once surveillance infrastructure is in place, it rarely goes away," reflecting the county's caution about long-term surveillance impacts, according to the Cochise County.
Despite a grant approved in October 2025 for the cameras, the county is now seeking alternatives that align with community values. Sheriff Dannels emphasized, "Public safety and public trust go hand in hand," showing the preference for targeted investigative tools over widespread automated surveillance, as reported by the Cochise County.
The county is reviewing the use of wide-ranging surveillance tools, saying, "This isn’t about being anti-technology or anti-law enforcement," but "It’s about being cautious stewards of both taxpayer dollars and civil liberties." Antenori plans a Board of Supervisors work session in early February to discuss these concerns with Supervisors Tom Crosby and Kathleen Gomez. The Sheriff’s office will continue working with neighboring and federal agencies, saying, "We respect that other agencies make decisions based on their operational needs," and will use established investigative methods while staying open to new technology, as stated by the Cochise County.
