Sheboygan covers Flock cameras, eyes contract termination
Sheboygan city officials have covered 15 Flock Safety cameras and plan to vote on terminating their contract, citing an "erosion of trust."
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, city officials have covered 15 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras with plastic and are moving to end their contract with the company. The city's police chief and administrator are recommending the Common Council terminate the agreement at a meeting scheduled for September 8, 2026. This decision stems from what Mayor Ryan Sorenson described as an "erosion of trust from Flock itself and how they were using our data." Wisconsin Watch reported on the city's actions.
For drivers, this means that the 15 Flock Safety cameras previously operating in Sheboygan are currently inactive. If the Common Council votes to terminate the contract, these cameras will be permanently removed, altering the surveillance landscape for those traveling through the city. You can always check our /map for the latest information on ALPR locations.
Why is Sheboygan ending its Flock Safety contract?
The Sheboygan Police Department has used automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology for over a decade, with Flock Safety cameras specifically in place since 2024. Despite acknowledging that Flock-captured data helped solve "several serious criminal cases," the department encountered issues that led to the push for termination.
According to a city statement, the police department "became aware of actions by Flock Safety believed to be inconsistent with the terms and expectations of the City's contract and which undermine trust in the services provided." Police Chief Kurt Zempel emphasized the importance of strong internal controls and community trust with any powerful technology, noting that "trust must extend to the partners who provide those services."
Alderman Susie Boorse, the Common Council president, also expressed concerns about data usage, stating, "we just can't be too careful about how our data is being used." Sheboygan joins other Wisconsin communities such as Oshkosh, Sturgeon Bay, Appleton, Verona, and Dane County, which have also ended their contracts with Flock Safety due to privacy concerns and issues regarding data access and sharing.
What does this mean for other Wisconsin drivers?
The situation in Sheboygan reflects ongoing discussions in other parts of Wisconsin regarding ALPR technology. In Brookfield, Alderman Catherine Kahler is requesting a review of the city's ALPR use and its participation in the Flock Safety network before its current agreement automatically renews in July 2027. She aims to understand:
- How information collected can be accessed and shared.
- Vendor rights regarding that information.
- The evolution of the technology and its capabilities.
- Whether existing safeguards and oversight are sufficient.
Meanwhile, members of the Milwaukee Common Council have sent a letter to their police chief and the Fire and Police Commission. They are requesting further reforms to the use of the camera system, including a "complete history of all searches conducted by outside agencies" using Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) camera data and a policy to suspend access to the Flock system for intentional unauthorized use. These requests follow charges against a former Milwaukee police officer for misusing the system.
The Sheboygan Common Council will vote on terminating the contract at its September 8 meeting. If approved, the covered cameras will be removed, marking a significant change for drivers in the area. Drivers interested in learning more about how ALPRs work can visit our /learn section.