MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — It’s unknown if federal or out-of-state agencies accessed the city’s Flock camera data before MPD locked down that access a few weeks ago.

That revelation came out at the Fire and Police Commission meeting held Thursday night, Sept. 17.

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Milwaukee police representatives gave an update on how the department is using automated license plate reader technology.

After weeks of growing opposition to the city’s Flock camera program, representatives from MPD gave an update on current policy and recent changes that were put in place.

The department explained how it’s protecting data now. But they also acknowledged the department did not have total control when regulations were more lax.

Unsurprisingly, that sparked outcry during public comment.

The meeting started with explanations and apologies.

Heather Hough, MPD’s chief of staff, said, “The department also wants to acknowledge our misuse, our members’ misuse of the technology.”

In a break from convention, the FPC delayed public comment and allowed MPD to give its presentation first.

The department implemented a series of policies Sept. 1 intended to tighten up security and limit data sharing.

But much of the concern at Thursday night’s meeting focused on the looser policies in place before then.

MPD said that at one point, it shared Flock data with at least 230 Wisconsin law enforcement agencies — possibly as many as 300.

They were only in Wisconsin, plus the Chicago Police Department.

But because those other departments may have different data-sharing policies, it’s possible Milwaukee’s data was accessed by out-of-state and federal agencies.

FPC Commissioner Krissie Fung explained, “That is what is commonly called side door access.”

Hough said, “The only people that can access it are Milwaukee.”

To which Fung asked, “But prior to September 1, they would have been able to?”

Hough said, “Correct. Other Wisconsin jurisdictions, correct.”

“How many of them have 287(g) agreements that resulted in the surge we had in June, where they were picking up mostly immigrants in vehicular stops?” asked Emilio de Torre, the executive director of the Milwaukee Turners.

Once public comment began, community members continued their opposition to Flock.

Amaya Ibanez-Baldor said, “This is my home. This is our home. This is not Flock’s territory.”

Alder Marina Dimitrijevic joined the meeting virtually and said, “I’m calling for the cancellation today.”

MPD framed the tighter regulations as a positive step.

During the presentation, Hough said, “The technology has been advancing faster than we can grasp. And so, unfortunately, we’re doing a lot of catch-up.”

But others said it should have been considered from the start.

Connor Grossnickle said, “I do want to agree with the chief of staff that technology evolves faster than we can comprehend it. And so I feel like we should stop using it until we can.”

Currently, MPD has access to ALPR data from 836 different jurisdictions.

Hough said the department does not share its data with any of them.

Chief Jeffrey Norman joined the meeting virtually after the presentation.

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He compared officers’ misuse of Flock data to when an officer misfires their service weapon or crashes a squad car. Norman said MPD does not take away every service weapon and squad car from the entire department.

But FPC Commissioner Chris Snyder pointed out the department has complete control over its service weapons and squad cars. It did not have complete control over its Flock data.