SAFFORD — During its regular meeting Monday, the Safford City Council spent 30 minutes on an issue without saying a word.
Eleven residents spoke during the call to the public portion of the meeting, where residents may speak on any topic not on the council’s agenda, and all but one called for the removal of the Flock camera system in use by the Safford Police Department.
“Normally, police investigate someone because they have reasonable suspicion or probable cause; Flock reverses that. Everyone’s recorded first, investigations happen later,” Nicholas Marble said. “And then, like all tools, someone eventually misuses it. What if an officer uses it to stalk an ex-wife? Or what if other agencies begin viewing our data without our law enforcement knowing?”
One speaker equated the cameras to Russian-style surveillance, another talked about the potential for data breaches and some commented that the public should have been made aware before the cameras were installed and made operational.
However; Police Chief Brian Avila gave the City Council an update on the cameras during a public meeting Sept. 8, 2025, stating a routine audit of the department’s policies and use of the cameras takes place.
“As far as retention policies, they’re governed,” Avila said during the 2025 meeting. “Unless it’s being used for a law enforcement purpose — say an investigation or something like that — after a year . . . all the data is redacted.”
The one person to speak in favor keeping the Flock camera system was Trinity Bejarano.
“Flock cameras are not surveillance cameras that track people, they are automated license plate readers designed to identify vehicles associated with crime — stolen vehicles, missing persons and Amber alerts,” Bejarano said.
Three people requested to speak after the call to the public session had started, and Mayor Richard Ortega allowed one but denied the other two.
The City Council cannot comment or take action on the statements made during call to the public. Vice Mayor Arnold Lopez requested that city staff bring the issue back at a future meeting for discussion and possible action.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to add Lopez’s request.
