Residents urge Bayfield County to cancel Flock Safety contract, cite data-privacy and constitutional concerns

Residents and other public commenters urged Bayfield County officials to cancel a contract with Flock Safety and hold public hearings, saying the camera system threatens privacy and constitutional rights.

At the Feb. 16 Sheriff’s Committee meeting, Paul DelMain said he opposed the county’s contract and asked that the county cancel it and hold public hearings. Jamie Paterson told the committee she opposes the contract and said the cameras "will be used to intimidate and hurt citizens." Mike Radtke said people are "justifiably concerned about constitutional rights being threatened by Flock Safety cameras," and Cathy Smith said she is "scared about the lack of protection for people’s data." Bailey Kroll urged the county to cancel the contract and remove all cameras and requested a public hearing. Paige Crenshaw said Flock Safety was implemented without public engagement and raised concerns about how data are collected, stored and accessed. Jennifer Boulley said Flock Safety "do[es] not make her feel safer for herself, her child, or her community," while acknowledging the sheriff’s office intends to prevent crime and drug use.

Committee Chair Larry Fickbohm said the committee could not respond to those comments at the meeting because Flock Safety was not on the posted agenda. Sheriff Tony Williams noted the Sheriff’s Office had posted a transparency portal linked from the department webpage: "transparency.flocksafety.com/bayfield-county-wi-so," and described that public material had been made available for review.

No formal action was taken on the contract during the meeting. The committee did not schedule a public hearing or place Flock Safety on the agenda at that time; public commenters requested that the county hold one. The matter remains unresolved pending any future agenda placement or formal county-board consideration.