A group of Maricopa residents plans to rally outside City Hall on Sept. 1 to urge the city to remove its more than 40 automated license plate reader cameras, according to InMaricopa.
The rally is being organized by Rancho El Dorado resident Amber Rutan, who said she became more concerned after seeing recent discussion about ALPRs in the news and on social media. She said recent decisions involving Sheriff Ross Teeple and the city of Chandler made her question whether Maricopa should keep its cameras.
Rutan said the event is meant to open a public conversation about privacy, data collection and government oversight. Organizers plan to gather before the city council meeting and then attend the meeting to speak during the call to the public.
Teeple recently announced he would cancel the Flock contract for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in San Tan Valley and unincorporated parts of the county, but said the move does not affect the City of Maricopa. Maricopa Police Department said last week that his decision “does not directly affect” the city’s policy or its agreement with Flock.
The police department has said its policy includes privacy safeguards and explains how the system is used, while also noting the cameras have helped in investigations. The Maricopa rally is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 1 outside City Hall.
