(The Center Square) – Milwaukee County’s parks will be Flock free by January.
County Executive David Crowley this week signed the new county ordinance to remove the surveillance cameras from county-owned parks and end funding for the system.
"Our residents must be able to enjoy our beautiful parks without wondering if their presence is being logged into an AI-powered surveillance system," Crowley said after signing the new ordinance. "We cannot wait until a data breach. We cannot wait until privacy is compromised or whether information is misused before we actually act."
Flock cameras have become a flashpoint in Milwaukee County – and around the country – as well as in the governor's race where Crowley is running as the Democrat candidate.
His opponent, Republican Tom Tiffany, has also expressed concerns about Flock cameras. While Tiffany has called for clear rules, and to allow local governments to decide their own Flock policies, Tiffany has not said he would remove the cameras.
Not everyone in Milwaukee County is happy with Crowley's decision to pull the cameras.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said the cameras helped drive down crime in county parks, and sheriff's officials say they are worried that removing the cameras will make the parks less safe.
"I understand that there have been a lot of communities within Wisconsin that have gotten rid of their cameras. But they don't have the level of crime we have, we have in the city of Milwaukee or Milwaukee County, so I think it was a disservice to remove those cameras," Milwaukee County Danita Ball said Monday.
There are currently 42 Flock cameras in Milwaukee County Parks. Monday's ordinance will have them removed by the end of the year.
Milwaukee County is also looking to stop funding for Flock cameras in next year's budget.
The city of Milwaukee, by comparison, is keeping its Flock cameras. But the city is moving forward with new rules that limit who can access the Flock data, and which cases qualify for a Flock search.