A Flock camera in Oshkosh. March 31, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — After a lengthy discussion Tuesday night, the Oshkosh Common Council voted to delay a decision on whether to renew the Oshkosh Police Department’s contract to use Flock cameras.
The decision will be addressed at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for April 21. Jacob Amos proposed the council delay the decision, which was supported by Joseph Stephenson, Karl Buelow and Brad Spanbauer.
Matt Mugerauer, Jacob Floam and DJ Nichols voted against delaying the decision.
The decision came after three hours of discussion and as part of a meeting that lasted 7 1/2 hours.
City first installed Flock cameras three years ago
Oshkosh first installed 20 cameras three years ago and another six last year. Flock cameras track license plates – designed to help solve crimes.
The council approved the use of cameras with little fanfare a few years ago, according to council members, yet Tuesday’s meeting drew about a dozen public commenters, all speaking out against the Flock cameras.
Nearly every community in the greater Fox Valley has them – Appleton, Fond du Lac, Neenah, Kaukauna – and every county.
The contract would be for two years and $81,750 per year.
Police Department wants the cameras to help solve crimes, but faced public backlash
Police Chief Dean Smith shared more on the importance for the department.
“We are successful in what we do as a police department because of the tools that you have provided to us,” said Smith. “We can’t do what we do without your help. We can’t do what we do within the community to keep them safe without our community’s help.”
Multiple commenters addressed the privacy concerns at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting.
“Instead of continuing to use this emerging technology, we are considering fully the risks or understanding exactly how it works and what it does with the data that it collects,” said Juan Garcia, an Oshkosh resident. “I encourage the city council to pause the renewal of this contract.”
The twist – next council meeting is after spring election; 2 council members leaving board
The next council meeting takes place after the spring election, which is on Tuesday, April 7.
Jacob Floam, DJ Nichols and Jacob Amos’s terms are all expiring. Floam and Nichols are not running for reelection, while Amos is.
Floam and Nichols both expressed support for the Flock cameras, but by delaying a decision, neither will be around to make the decision at the next meeting.
Comments