By Lisa Borowsky | Mayor of Scottsdale
Public safety is one of government’s most important responsibilities. Privacy and civil liberties are among its most important obligations.
The challenge before Scottsdale is not choosing one over the other. It is ensuring we protect both. That is why I brought forward a motion this week directing city staff to draft a formal ordinance governing Scottsdale’s use of Automated License Plate Reader, or ALPR, technology provided by Flock.
I’m grateful that my colleagues on the Scottsdale City Council unanimously supported that effort. For months, residents have asked important questions about the city’s use of this technology. Those questions deserve answers.
How long is data stored? Who can access it? What protections are in place to prevent misuse? How is the system audited? What happens if policies are violated? These are reasonable questions, and they are exactly the kinds of questions elected officials should be asking on behalf of the public.
Let’s be clear: ALPR technology can be an effective law enforcement tool. It has been used to locate stolen vehicles, identify suspects in serious crimes and assist investigations. Scottsdale residents expect their police department to have access to tools that help keep our community safe.
But public safety tools must come alongside accountability to the public.
Trust is not created because government says, “Trust us.” Trust is earned by establishing clear rules, strict oversight and meaningful consequences when those rules are violated.
The motion approved by City Council this week takes an important step in that direction. It calls for a formal ordinance which outlines independent audits, internal checks and balances, consistent and frequent training requirements, limitations on data retention practices, limitations on departmental access, and greater transparency around the technologies the city uses.
Just as importantly, it directs staff to evaluate alternatives to the city’s current vendor to ensure Scottsdale has the strongest possible protections for data ownership, privacy, security, and information sharing.
As this ordinance is developed, I will advocate for even stronger safeguards, including regular third-party audits of the system. Independent verification is one of the strongest ways to ensure public confidence.
I pressed for reducing our police department’s data retention to 30 days — government should not retain data longer than absolutely necessary. Access to the system should be further restricted, with only a limited number of trained personnel authorized to use it. In addition, every search of the database should require supervisory approval and oversight.
The more powerful technology becomes, the more important it is to ensure its use is narrowly tailored and carefully monitored. These are common-sense protections. This should not be a partisan issue. It should not be an ideological issue. It is a governance issue.
Strong safeguards are not a criticism of law enforcement. They are a recognition that transparency and accountability strengthen public confidence in the work law enforcement does every day.
Good government requires more than good intentions. It requires policies, oversight, and verification. Scottsdale has an opportunity to become a model for how cities can responsibly use emerging public safety technologies while respecting the constitutional rights and freedoms of the people they serve.
The unanimous vote by the City Council demonstrates that we share a common goal: Keeping Scottsdale safe while ensuring that privacy, accountability, and transparency remain at the center of every decision we make.
That’s not an either-or proposition — it’s our responsibility as your elected leaders to deliver on both.
Editor’s Note: Lisa Borowsky is mayor of Scottsdale serving her first term.
