The Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Aug. 12 to issue a 180-day notice of termination on Flock Group Inc.’s right-of-way agreement. The vote clears the path for Pinal County Flock cameras removal from county infrastructure. Sheriff Ross Teeple had already cancelled a separate operational contract with Flock over Fourth Amendment concerns; county attorneys later clarified the action was technically a notice of non-renewal. Vice Chairman Jeff Serdy requested the agenda item.
Supervisor Stephen Miller cast the lone no vote. “I think there’s some unintended consequences for all this action,” he said. “I think it should be explored more, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
The sheriff’s office’s operational contract with Flock expires on Sept. 29, 2026. On that date, Deputy County Attorney Ian Daranyi told supervisors, “the services and the leases of the Flock equipment are concluded.” However, the right-of-way agreement itself will terminate around February 2027. Meanwhile, county staff can begin setting a removal schedule with Flock.
Vote Scope and the Sept. 29 Cutoff
The Aug. 12 vote concerns Flock’s right to place equipment on county infrastructure in Pinal County rights-of-way. It does not terminate separate agreements held by municipalities. “This is only the ones that are under county control, not in the cities, not anywhere else,” Chairman Jeff McClure said.
Daranyi told supervisors the sheriff’s operational contract cannot be terminated outright. Instead, the sheriff’s office issued a notice of non-renewal. “Those contracts are technically in effect until September 29th,” he said. However, he confirmed there is a hard stop on that date.
Supervisor Rich Vitiello asked for confirmation. “So September 29th, system is shut off for good in the county area,” he said. Daranyi replied that this is how the non-renewal is intended to operate.
Two Contracts, One Camera Network
Sheriff Ross Teeple already ordered his staff to cancel the operational contract that lets deputies use the Flock system. He announced that decision on Aug. 5, citing Fourth Amendment concerns. For details, see Pinal Post’s earlier coverage of Sheriff Teeple’s cancellation order.
However, that announcement covered only one of two agreements the county holds with Flock. The board’s action addressed the second one — the right-of-way license agreement. This agreement allows the company to physically install equipment on county infrastructure.
The two agreements required separate actions. The sheriff’s operational agreement was handled through non-renewal, while ending Flock’s right-of-way agreement required board action.
The distinction matters for physical removal. “This agreement before the board is just as to the rights of way,” Daranyi told supervisors. He added that the sheriff’s contract “is not part of this agreement. They are two separate things.” Notices for the sheriff’s contract had already gone to Flock.
“This can’t be done with just a stroke of a pen or a statement, so now Ian is gonna explain what exactly has to happen to make this permanent as we wish,” Serdy said.
What the 180-Day Notice Triggers for Pinal County Flock Cameras Removal
The right-of-way agreement extension runs for a five-year term. It was otherwise set to run through Sept. 5, 2029. However, both the county and Flock can terminate the deal with 180 days written notice.
Once the notice goes out, the county can set a schedule for Flock to remove the equipment. If Flock misses that schedule, county crews can remove the cameras and bill the company for the cost.
Daranyi told supervisors he’d advise public works staff to move quickly on a removal schedule. However, he said scheduling falls within the board’s prerogative. Vitiello said the physical takedown would take weeks. McClure was less certain, saying it could be “weeks or a month or who knows?”
A Brief History of the County’s Flock Agreements
- August 2022: The board approved the original right-of-way agreement with Flock Group Inc. as a trial period.
- September 2024: After the trial period concluded, the board approved a five-year extension, effective Sept. 5, 2024.
- August 5, 2026: Sheriff Teeple announced the sheriff’s operational contract with Flock would not be renewed.
- August 12, 2026: The board voted 4-1 to issue a 180-day notice of termination on the right-of-way extension.
When County Residents Will See Cameras Come Down
Public works staff will now develop a removal schedule with Flock. The sheriff’s operational contract stops on Sept. 29, ending the services. Subsequently, physical removal of the Pinal County Flock cameras from county right-of-way will follow on the schedule the county sets. The county’s action does not terminate Flock agreements separately held by municipalities.
