A Flock camera in Oshkosh. March 31, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Flock license plate recognition cameras will likely be going away soon in Appleton.
Mayor Jake Woodford made the announcement Wednesday. His office said the city is evaluating terms of its contract with Flock Safety to see whether the decision needs action from the city council. In the meantime, Flock data sharing to other departments has been strictly curtailed.
Woodford issued this statement:
After careful consideration, taking into account the feedback from our community and our own concerns, we are beginning the process of ending our use of Flock Safety’s system in the City of Appleton. Automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology has proven instrumental in solving cases, recovering stolen property, and locating missing people and we believe that if an alternative option is identified, it is an important capability to maintain for our community. That being said, concerns about the integrity of Flock’s underlying system have eroded our trust.
The Appleton Police Department has long instituted strong internal controls over use of the product and data and has enhanced its policies to protect the public in recent months. However, such rigorous standards cannot be verified beyond the boundaries of our jurisdiction. Examples of illegitimate use of Flock data by personnel in other departments with access to the system reinforce accountability concerns that are not under the City of Appleton’s control as a customer.Recent events in a neighboring community have also raised questions about the accuracy of information Flock Safety provides to its customers. Regardless of the specific details, we hold ourselves to the highest standard in matters involving the public’s personal data.
In recent events, Menasha police officer Cristian Morales has been charged with misconduct in office for allegedly accessing the Flock database to track his ex-girlfriend. Milwaukee police officer Josue Ayala faces similar charges for allegedly tracking two victims.
Appleton’s move comes two weeks after the city of Oshkosh decided not to renew its contract with Flock.
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