Flock Camera in Green Bay, Sep. 1, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Bay Police Department is announcing its newly drafted Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology policy.
ALPR technology, such as Flock cameras, have been at the center of debate for many Northeast Wisconsin communities.
Green Bay residents have been vocal about their concerns of privacy with the technology.
The public can comment on the changes in policy online here through Oct. 14.
Many communities across the region recently terminated Flock camera usage due to the recent discovery of sensitive data sharing. There have also been cases around the country where law enforcement have been using the technology to surveil people for personal reasons. Last month, a former Menasha Police Officer was convicted of misconduct in office, after using Flock to stalk his ex-girlfriend.
Green Bay police officials and the city’s mayor advocated for the technology, saying it helped in many cases over the years since the city’s first ALPR was installed in 2022.
According to Mayor Eric Genrich, “We strive to be the safest community in America. And I work every day to make sure the men and women of GBPD have the support and resources that they need to make that happen. ALPR cameras are a core element of the support we offer currently, and that isn’t changing.”
There are currently 42 ALPR cameras installed throughout the city.
Green Bay police chief Chris Davis says the updated policy codifies a lot of what was already in place.
“The bottom line is we recognize the public’s concern about the safety of its data. And one of the things about policing in a democracy is that we don’t get to do just whatever we want as the police. We have to have some limits on our authority and we respect that. And we understand and we appreciate the trust that the public places in us and that that trust brings with it the responsibility to always use sensitive data about our community members only in the right ways and in ways that comply with the constitution,” said Davis.
The revised policy, which increases privacy protection, includes: a reduced data retention period from 30 days to 7 days, after which data shall be permanently deleted from the system, stricter requirements for searches and hot lists requiring a case or call number, limited data sharing with outside law enforcement agencies, expanded public reporting with a monthly report that is to be posted to the GBPD website, and regular monthly audits to be completed by the 15th of the following calendar month to ensure ALPR technology is used appropriately.
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