TMJ4 reported that Kewaskum police will not renew their Flock Safety contract. The decision follows the theft of the village's only Flock Safety camera, which was knocked down and stolen in July.
Police Chief Bishop said public pushback across Washington County led the department to pause use of the AI license plate-reading technology. He opted not to replace the stolen camera.
What happened in Kewaskum?
- The camera stood at Highway 45 and Highway H. Someone knocked it down and stole it in July.
- Bishop said the department will not replace the camera or renew the Flock contract.
- He cited public pushback in Germantown, Slinger and Hartford.
- Bishop emailed TMJ4 that he will keep monitoring the discussion and may revisit the technology later.
What changes for drivers?
Kewaskum's Flock camera is gone, and the reporting says it will not be replaced under this contract. The decision covers Kewaskum's contract and its one camera. TMJ4 doesn't say whether Germantown, Slinger, Hartford or Washington County operate plate readers of their own.
What does not change is the broader network. A city that drops one vendor removes only the cameras that city runs. You can check where cameras are mapped on the camera map, and how plate readers work explains what the systems record.
Will other police agencies in Washington County keep their plate readers?
TMJ4 doesn't say which other Washington County agencies use plate readers or how many cameras they run. Residents who want that answer can ask their own police department directly, and published transparency records by agency are a good place to start.
Business owner Donald Williams said he was glad the camera is gone. “Because I think it’s an invasion of privacy,” he said. He also wants more notice. He asked why residents were not told the system was in use.
What happens next?
Bishop said the pause is appropriate for now. TMJ4 doesn't give a date for any review, and no council or board vote is mentioned in the reporting. Kewaskum residents who want a say can ask whether the village plans to revisit the technology and what notice it would give before doing so.