Chandler is putting the brakes on a decision about its controversial Flock license plate reader cameras after residents raised concerns about privacy and data collection.

The city council was expected to vote on extending Chandler's contract with Flock Safety, but after extensive public comment during Thursday's meeting, officials decided to postpone the vote until July 16.

Police first installed 14 Flock cameras in March 2024 as part of a pilot program. The city later approved the purchase of 26 additional cameras in May 2025. The system captures license plate information and alerts law enforcement when a vehicle is connected to a stolen vehicle report, missing person case, warrant, or other law enforcement database entry.

According to city officials, the cameras generated more than 3,500 alerts between October and December alone.

Supporters say the technology helps police solve crimes and locate wanted vehicles. Critics, however, continue to question how the data is stored, who has access to it, and whether enough safeguards are in place to protect privacy.

Flock maintains that Chandler controls its own data and that records are automatically deleted after 30 days. Still, many residents say they want more transparency before the city commits to expanding the program.

The debate isn't unique to Chandler. Other Arizona cities, including Flagstaff, have ended their agreements with Flock over data privacy concerns, while Tempe has chosen to test a different license plate reader system.

For now, Chandler's cameras will remain operational while city leaders revisit the issue in July.