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License-plate readers · Barron

Barron

Using license-plate readers · 2 agencies documented

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Chetek Police Department

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
2
Two Flock cameras installed late May 2026, per WEAU July 2026.
  1. May 2026 Police chief installed two Flock cameras without informing the mayor or City Council; the mayor said the chief had authority to buy them from the operating budget. (WEAU, July 20, 2026)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Wisconsin Examiner (Sept. 2026) listed Chetek among communities that had canceled, were considering canceling, or had covered cameras, without saying which; current status not confirmed. InvestigateTV (Oct. 2026) reported the chief announced retirement at the end of August 2026.

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Rice Lake Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
13
13 Flock cameras approved for a 60-day trial, per Rice Lake Chronotype (undated page).
Contract
Flock Safety: $2,500 period not stated · approved by Rice Lake City Council (unanimous vote allowing a 60-day trial, at a Dec. 28 meeting; year not stated) · About $2,500 per camera per year to lease after the trial, per the chief's presentation; the trial was free, and the city would be bound to the contract if it did not end the trial in time. (Rice Lake Chronotype, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Leader-Telegram (July 2025) reported Rice Lake uses Flock cameras. Trial date and current contract not documented.

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Statewide

  1. Aug. 2023 FOX6 reported that the Wisconsin Department of Justice said it does not keep track of Flock cameras, and that Wisconsin had no law setting retention periods for plate-reader data. (FOX6 News Milwaukee, Aug. 2, 2023)
  2. 2025 Lobbying registrations on AB 300 with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission: the ACLU of Wisconsin registered against (6/8/2025); the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association (6/10/2025), the League of Wisconsin Municipalities (6/23/2025) and Flock Group Inc. (7/25/2025) registered in favor; the Wisconsin Grocers Association registered 'other' (6/19/2025). (Wisconsin Ethics Commission (lobbying.wi.gov), date not shown)
  3. 2025 The Wisconsin Examiner, citing OpenSecrets, reported that Flock spent $102,000 on lobbying in Wisconsin in 2025, and that AB 300 and SB 299 did not pass. (Wisconsin Examiner (republished by Urban Milwaukee), Aug. 28, 2026)
  4. May 30, 2025 Senate Bill 299, by Sens. James and Wanggaard, was introduced to create a state grant program (new s. 165.985) for buying automated registration plate reader systems; it was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, and the Legislature's page shows no later action. (Wisconsin State Legislature, date not shown)
  5. June 6, 2025 Assembly Bill 300, the companion grant-program bill by Rep. Novak and 13 other representatives, was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety; the Legislature's page shows no later action. (Wisconsin State Legislature, date not shown)
  6. Aug. 6, 2025 A Wisconsin Examiner analysis of Flock network audit data found that at least 221 Wisconsin law enforcement agencies used Flock from Jan. 1 to May 31, 2025. (Wisconsin Examiner, Aug. 6, 2025)
  7. Sept. 2026 Attorney General Josh Kaul, speaking at a Rotary Club event, called on the Legislature to pass a state law governing how plate readers may be used, including a general bar on selling ALPR data to private companies. (CBS 58 says Tuesday; its story is dated Sept. 8, 2026.) (CBS 58 (WDJT), Sept. 8, 2026)
  8. Sept. 2026 State Rep. Calvin Callahan, chair of the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection, said government use of Flock cameras should be prohibited unless it comes with warrants, judicial oversight and strict retention limits, and said he would hold a committee hearing on surveillance cameras when the Legislature returns in January. No bill number was cited. (WSAW says the statement came on a Tuesday; the story is dated Sept. 15, 2026.) (WSAW NewsChannel 7, Sept. 15, 2026)
  9. Sept. 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany said that if elected he would pause state funding for Flock and create a privacy task force; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a Democratic candidate for governor, directed county departments to limit Flock use. (Wisconsin Public Radio, Sept. 2, 2026)