Stopping short of ban, Milwaukee mayor announces limitations for Flock camera use by police

As outrage mounts across the country, Milwaukee is limiting the use of Flock Safety cameras in the police department.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced the changes Aug. 31 in a statement saying, “I am committed to regularly reviewing our use of Flock cameras and will make further decisions when and if necessary.”

Automated license plate reader technology is wildly unpopular with the American public, across the political spectrum, as they are viewed as infringing on civil liberties by tracking the public. In particular, Flock Safety, the largest provider of the technology, has taken most of the heat. 

Officers have been investigated or arrested and charged with misusing the technology, including on at least three occasions in Milwaukee. 

Last week, 11 members of the Milwaukee Common Council, led by Ald. Marina Dimitijevic, asked City Attorney Evan Goyke to review the policy. The Flock contract is up in January 2027.

Johnson is committing to six new policy adjustments, including limited access to the tool and restricting use to the most violent crimes:

• Access to Flock camera systems data was limited earlier this year.  At my direction, MPD has agreed to further restrict access to this data. Only supervisors will be allowed to access Flock camera systems. No officers or detectives will be allowed access to these systems at this time.
• The use of Flock cameras will be limited to Part I crimes, critical missing persons, drug trafficking organization investigations and abductions only. Part I crimes only include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assaults (to include non-fatal shootings), burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson and human trafficking. 
• At my direction, MPD has agreed to create a publicly available dashboard providing the community information about the Department’s use of Flock camera technology.
• MPD has agreed to further limit access to Flock cameras by restricting access to Milwaukee’s cameras only to MPD. This means that MPD Flock data will be strictly limited to MPD so that auditing and oversight is fully within its control.
• In its oversight role, the Fire and Police Commission (FPC) has already initiated an audit of the Flock camera system and its use in the city. At my direction, the FPC Executive Director has agreed that semiannual independent audits of MPD’s Flock camera use will be conducted.  I have requested that these results be shared directly with my office as an additional review of Flock camera use as well as provide public access to the findings.
• My office will continuously monitor the use of Flock cameras on a regular basis.

Johnson said he has spoken to Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and the executive director of the Fire and Police Commission Leon Todd about the changes. 

“I value the thoughtful discussions I have had with (Norman and Todd),” the mayor said in a statement. “They join me in a commitment to fairness and justice for all individuals who may be impacted by emerging technologies. 

“I recognize the benefits of the Flock cameras system. On multiple occasions this tool has located critical missing persons and helped apprehend violent criminals in Milwaukee,” Johnson also added. 

Milwaukee is not alone as the only municipality limiting the technology, but some 200 cities have taken it a step further by ending their relationship with Flock all together.