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Milwaukee aldermen register objections to extension of Flock license‑plate reader support; seek RFP and more transparency
Summary
Committee members objected on record to a contract amendment that funds licensing and maintenance of 31 city automated license‑plate reader cameras, asked for independent review and said future renewals should be subject to an RFP and clearer SOPs for surveillance use.
At a Feb. 4 Finance & Personnel Committee meeting, several members registered formal objections to a contract amendment that adds funding to the city's Flock automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) support and licensing for 31 cameras.
Purchasing staff said the contract amendment covers licensing and maintenance for the 31 city cameras and brings prior piecemeal agreements under a single contract. "This moves us forward for the next contract year for the city side," said Laura Engen of the Milwaukee Police Department, noting 10 cameras were initially purchased and 21 were obtained through a grant.
Several aldermen expressed privacy and oversight concerns. The chairwoman said she was "objecting to this extension" and asked for the objection to be recorded in the minutes, adding that she would push for future procurements to come back as approval files and for the matter to go to an RFP. "I do have deep concerns about the Flock contract," she said, and asked purchasing to pursue future RFP options.
Other members worried about the broader surveillance network and data flows: committee members asked whether the Flock system connects to third‑party consumer devices (for example, Ring). MPD staff replied that, per Captain Simmert, the city's system is not connected to Ring cameras; MPD and Purchasing agreed to provide more technical detail after the committee.
Miranda Kelsey of Purchasing said the software component that integrates body‑camera and ALPR data has proprietary aspects but that the city could pursue an RFP at renewal and will discuss options with MPD ahead of contract renewal. "There's no reason why we cannot pursue an RFP and look at the cost of that," Purchasing said.
The committee recorded objections and asked MPD, Purchasing and the city attorney's office to provide further information on capabilities, data handling, and whether standard operating procedures governing surveillance technology will be reviewed at the Fire & Police Commission.
What happens next: Purchasing will follow up with MPD about technical integrations and licensing; committee members asked for an RFP path for future renewals and said they will raise the issue with the Fire & Police Commission and in future committee discussions.
