The Brief
- Milwaukee County covered its Flock cameras with black plastic bags.
- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley paused inmate tablet messaging system at one facility after cases of misuse.
- U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany criticized his competitor’s handling of the tablet program.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. – Milwaukee County bags its Flock cameras. The county leases 42 Flock cameras, including 14 by the lakefront, and the others watched from other county parkland.
Cameras covered
Local perspective:
Now, those cameras are covered with black plastic bags. On October 1, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to remove the Flock cameras. On October 12, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed the legislation. The county’s lease with Flock expires in December, while Crowley runs for Wisconsin governor in just about three weeks.
“I recognize the value camera surveillance can offer for our public safety partners, and I will keep working to strengthen public safety in Milwaukee County, including helping our sheriff’s office identify and implement more tools to prevent crimes,” Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said during the signing ceremony. “But our residents’ constitutional rights must take precedence.”
“David can choose what he’s going to do in Milwaukee County,” U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for governor, said. “I think we need to set up a task force. That’s what I’m going to do right after being elected. Let’s find out where they can be used, and if they can be used. My first priority is always privacy. We need to make sure we protect people’s privacy. We need to be sure that we protect their data.”
Milwaukee County executive pauses inmate messaging amid Republican criticism…