This browser does not support the Video element.
New Milwaukee public safety technologies revealed
The Havenwoods Business Improvement District announced a partnership with Flock Safety in the pursuit of improved public safety in Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee's Havenwoods Business Improvement District on Tuesday, May 3 announced a partnership with Flock Safety, a public safety operating system, to use camera technology.
A news release says the BID will be deploying Flock Safety automated license plate reading cameras, which communities report have helped reduce crime by up to 70%.
"I was recently, on Valentine’s Day, in a car accident right here at this stop light, the young lady ran the red light and T-boned me," said resident Terry Phillips. "If those cameras were there, there would be proof that she was at fault."
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Video evidence would have gone a long way for Phillips. That desire has become a reality. Flock Safety will be installing license plate-reading cameras in the Havenwoods neighborhood.
"They will be placed in equitable positions around the community, the data from these cameras will be 100% owned by Havenwoods BID and will only be used for solving crimes," said Steve Hentzen, Havenwoods BID board chair
This browser does not support the Video element.
Milwaukee police announce new public safety technologies
The Havenwoods Business Improvement District will announce a partnership with Flock Safety, the public safety operating system, to deploy best-in-class technology in the pursuit of improved public safety.
Flock cameras scan license plates, snap photos and are connected to crime databases across the U.S.
"This is about a targeting approach for those who are doing crime in our community and only through information, credible real-time information, are we able to do that," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
Flock Safety license plate-reading camera
Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union said they are worried about privacy. FOX6 News reached out for an interview, but no one was available. A report from the ACLU details concerns of widespread surveillance of noncriminal activities and the ability to track people's movements.
"So it's only being stored if it's going to be used as a piece of evidence in an investigation, law enforcement can download it and save it in their normal evidence management system," said Josh Thomas, Flock Safety vice president of external communications.
Flock Safety says 24 Wisconsin law enforcement agencies use its technology, including in Germantown, Grafton and Port Washington.
The Havenwoods BID said there will be 14 cameras to start, placed on stop lights, street poles and some business signs, depending on traffic and available electricity. The plan, Flock Safety said, is to have the cameras up by summer – city and state permit approvals pending.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.