Mukwonago Police Department are pitching a 60-day test drive of Flock Safety license-plate-reader cameras that would plant two devices in the village and two in the town, with the Village Board set to weigh the plan Wednesday night. The idea has already divided neighbors at a public meeting, where some residents argued the cameras could help crack cases while others warned about creeping surveillance. Village officials have framed the proposal as a short trial that can be shut down quickly if the technology does not feel right for the community, as reported by TMJ4.
According to TMJ4, the proposed contract spells out a 60-day trial and lists an annual price tag of $13,500, though officials said they are actively exploring donations from local businesses and community members to help cover the cost. Department materials explain that the system logs the time and location of vehicles and can alert officers if a car is tied to a reported crime. The trial agreement would let the department walk away within 60 days without penalty, and Acting Chief Chris DeMotto stressed that the devices are not speed or red-light cameras and do not use facial recognition.
How the cameras work
Flock Safety’s product page describes its license-plate readers as cameras that capture plates and build searchable records that include vehicle details such as make, model and color, then generate real-time alerts when a plate on a hotlist pops up. The company also touts built-in audit trails, permission-based access and automated flags for unusual searches as part of its platform, features that are part of its sales pitch to police departments nationwide, according to Flock Safety.
Neighbors split at the meeting
Supporters at the recent meeting argued the cameras could help investigations and scare off would-be criminals, while opponents raised alarms about how much information government should collect on everyday drivers; those reactions were reported by TMJ4. One attendee told the station, “I still think overall Flock is a good idea.” Other neighbors countered that the system could be “a nuisance” for people who do not want to be recorded and questioned whether routine use of the cameras would be justified.
Audits and oversight questions
Local reporting has highlighted how routine Flock searches can be tough to monitor in practice. An analysis of Waukesha County usage found that officers often entered broad explanations like “investigation” as the reason for a search, which privacy advocates say makes it difficult to assess whether queries were appropriate, according to Urban Milwaukee.
Examples of alleged misuse
Privacy advocates also point to recent cases in which officers were accused of abusing access to license-plate data. Prosecutors charged a Milwaukee officer earlier this year with repeatedly running plates for personal reasons, a case detailed by the Wisconsin Law Journal. Those incidents have helped fuel calls for clearer rules along with stronger technical and managerial safeguards on the systems.
The Village Board’s upcoming decision will determine whether Mukwonago takes the cameras out for that short test run. If the plan is approved, officials say the trial will also serve as a proving ground for the department’s logging practices, supervisory alerts and software that flags repeated searches. Neighbors and advocacy groups, meanwhile, insist those guardrails will have to carry real weight before any long-term rollout is even on the table.
