Sheboygan police chief, city administrator recommend ending Flock Safety contract
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (CBS 58) — The chief of the Sheboygan Police Department and the city administrator are asking the Common Council to end the city's agreement with Flock Safety cameras.
In a news release, Sheboygan police said they became aware in July of actions by Flock Safety that violated the city's contract. The department did not specify what those actions were.
As a result, all 15 Flock cameras in the city have been covered and are no longer capturing data.
Chief Kurt Zempel acknowledged the cameras have been used to help solve several criminal cases but said technology involving sensitive information requires strong oversight.
"But as with any system that involves access to powerful technology or sensitive information, strong internal controls and community trust are vital," Zempel said in the release. "The Sheboygan Police Department constantly evaluates the effectiveness and reliability of its technology providers, and while Flock Safety's technology has been instrumental in removing violent offenders from our community and recovering stolen vehicles and other property, we believe that ending the relationship with Flock Safety is necessary at this time."
Drivers in Sheboygan Wednesday had mixed reactions, but both said public safety should remain a priority.
"It's too bad they covered them up. I wish they wouldn't," Jack Lindow said. "I'm not concerned about it. I never do anything wrong and I'm not a criminal or anything like that, so they can trace me anywhere I go."
"I think that's a good move in the right direction," Eric Matiasek said. "If there's a reason for it, I think it's understandable, but just to monitor people's movement and behavior, I don't really feel is right or American."
The Common Council is scheduled to discuss the Flock cameras during its regular meeting Sept. 8 and vote on whether to continue the contract.