The Town of Queen Creek is committed to ensuring that technology used to support community public safety, including automated license plate readers (ALPR), adheres to appropriate safeguards, oversight and accountability.
Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley shared, “Public safety is our top priority, and we want to ensure our officers have access to investigative tools that help solve crimes, while doing so responsibly. We’re looking for a multifaceted approach to balance technology with accountability.”
QCPD currently uses ALPR strictly for law enforcement purposes. There are safeguards in place to oversee access, conduct audits and ensure data-sharing is limited to Arizona law-enforcement agencies.
At the Sept. 2 meeting, the Town Council will be presented with options to enhance those existing safeguards.
“Responsible use of public-safety technology begins with strong local governance,” stated Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice. “These proposed changes were not prompted by any misuse of the technology. We are taking a proactive approach by bringing a three-pronged proposal to Council that would further strengthen QCPD’s existing safeguards and oversight. Our goal is to preserve the operational value of ALPR while continuing to protect privacy, reinforce accountability and maintain the trust of our community.”
The Council will consider:
• Potential policy changes to further restrict access and data sharing
• Potential ordinance changes to enhance accountability, making it a misdemeanor to misuse ALPR technology
• Available technology and potential contract changes
In Fiscal Year 2025/26, ALPRs provided critical leads in more than 2,400 cases. ALPR helps officers develop vehicle-related leads, locate stolen or wanted vehicles, assist with missing or endangered-person investigations, and identify vehicles associated with criminal activity.
ALPR captures limited vehicle information at a specific public location and time, including a license plate image, plate characters, and visible vehicle characteristics such as make, model, color, body style, and other distinguishing features. It does not use facial recognition or biometric identification, does not identify drivers or passengers, does not provide continuous GPS tracking, and is not used for automated traffic enforcement.
QCPD does not use ALPR as a mass-surveillance or general tracking system. Every search must have a documented and legitimate law-enforcement purpose. Access is limited to trained and authorized personnel, searches are tied to individual user accounts, and system activity is logged, reviewable, and subject to audit. Data is retained for no more than 30 days unless it is preserved as evidence in an investigation.
For more information about how QCPD uses technology to enhance public safety, please visit the
QCPD Technology, Transparency & Accountability page.
Media Contact
QCPIO@QueenCreekAZ.gov