Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Common Council explores license plate cameras, prompting surveillance concerns

Published

7 months ago

June 11, 2025

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Milwaukee Common Council explores license plate cameras, prompting surveillance concerns

Heather Hough, the Police Department’s chief of staff, said police policy restricts access to camera footage and use in investigations. Milwaukee police started using the cameras in 2022, she said.

Milwaukee police and business improvement districts are looking to expand the use of license plate reading cameras that they say can help solve crimes, though the plan has met with opposition from residents worried about privacy.

At issue during the Common Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee meeting on May 29 was legislation to expand the use of Flock cameras. The cameras scan and identify license plates, according to Milwaukee police.

The committee decided to hold the legislation, meaning it could come up at a future meeting. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for June 18.

The expansion would add three new cameras in Milwaukee’s business districts. It occurs during a broader discussion about the potential benefits to public safety versus concerns over increased police surveillance.

“Ultimately, there’s going to be a discussion … about anything that smacks of surveillance software and what oversight is provided and should be provided,” Ald. Scott Spiker said.

Heather Hough, the Police Department’s chief of staff, said police policy restricts access to camera footage and its use in investigations. Milwaukee police started using the cameras in 2022, she said.

The cameras help with property theft and potentially identifying homicide suspects’ vehicles through the license plates, she said.

“These particular cameras aren’t equipped to identify people,” Hough said.

Business leader pushes for acquiring more cameras

Business leaders advocated for the cameras, saying they provide safety in the city.

The expansion of Flock cameras could help lower car thefts and help with Amber Alerts, said Tara Cavazos, the executive director of the South 27^th Street Business District Association and one of the supporters of the legislation.

Cavazos argued Flock cameras can remove bias in policing because the cameras identify only license plates, and Milwaukee police need a reason to access the camera footage.

“You still have to do your police work to identify who’s driving that car,” Cavazos said.

Cavazos’ organization was joined by other business districts near the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and southwest Milwaukee — the Gateway to Milwaukee and the Crisol Corridor — as supporters of the legislation. The groups donated funds for the cameras for two years, she said.

How Flock cameras are already used in Milwaukee

Cavazos said the Flock cameras in her business district have helped lower car thefts and identify a homicide suspect.

Flock cameras were also referenced in cases like the Maxwell Anderson trial.

In the latter, police testified the cameras helped them track victim Sade Robinson’s vehicle through the city the night she died.

Currently, Milwaukee has 31 Flock cameras in use, police told the Journal Sentinel.

Milwaukee residents raise concerns about the use of technology

For those against the Flock cameras, even three more cameras is part of an unchecked growth of police surveillance in the city since 2022.

Heba Mohammad, a Milwaukee resident who lives in the area where the cameras would be located, said Flock cameras wouldn’t help the community. Mohammad instead advocated for addressing root causes of crime, like poverty rates and meeting residents’ needs.

“To me this is more of an interest in having the illusion of safety rather than doing things that make our community safer,” Mohammad said.

Milwaukee resident Ron Jansen raised concerns about the cameras being used by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

“All these cameras do is create another avenue for abuse at the hands of MPD now and whatever police force comes to kidnap whoever the federal government decides is a threat in the near future,” Jansen said.

This is not the first time Milwaukee police have faced scrutiny from the community about surveillance technology.

The issue of privacy came up this year when Milwaukee police were talking about the potential use of facial recognition technology in investigations, which was met with backlash from residents and the Common Council.

Milwaukee police recently implemented a drone team after the Republican National Convention, prompting surveillance concerns from some.

Amanda Merkwae, an advocacy director at ACLU Wisconsin, said the Common Council should consider adopting a program called Community Control Over Police Surveillance, also known as CCOPS ordinance.

The ordinance requires police surveillance technology to be reviewed by the public and Common Council before it can be implemented, she said.

“I think at least by adopting something like a CCOPS ordinance puts a framework around the decision to ensure transparency and democracy in that decision making, I think the public can really grapple with these questions,” Merkwae said.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee police chase, 15-year-old driver arrested

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee police chase, 15-year-old driver arrested

article

Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee police arrested a 15-year-old boy after a pursuit across the city’s north side Wednesday night.

What they’re saying:

The chase started around 9:20 p.m. MPD said officers saw a vehicle that was wanted in an armed robbery and tried to stop it near 33rd and Locust, but the driver took off.

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The chase ended roughly two miles away near 29th and Roosevelt, where the driver got out and ran. MPD said the suspect’s vehicle continued to roll and collided with another vehicle. Officers ultimately caught the 15-year-old and took him into custody.

What’s next:

Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

The Source: FOX6 News requested information from the Milwaukee Police Department.

Police ChasesNewsMilwaukee

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee stabbing near 40th and McKinley; 1 wounded, 1 arrested

Published

16 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee stabbing near 40th and McKinley; 1 wounded, 1 arrested

article

Milwaukee Police Department

MILWAUKEE – One person was taken to the hospital after a stabbing in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Jan. 7.

What we know:

According to Milwaukee police, a 26-year-old was stabbed around 7 p.m. near 40th and McKinley.

Milwaukee police arrested a suspect on the scene.

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What you can do:

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips.

The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee man charged; officer trapped in defendant’s getaway car

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee man charged; officer trapped in defendant’s getaway car

article

MILWAUKEE – A 26-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of fleeing police during an arrest attempt. An officer who was present to make the arrest ended up being trapped in the backseat of the defendant’s vehicle during an attempt to flee law enforcement. The accused is Kewane Daniels – and he faces the following criminal counts:

First-degree recklessly endangering safety
False imprisonment
Operating a motor vehicle to flee or in an attempt to elude an officer
Second-degree recklessly endangering safety

Property taken, arrest attempt

What we know:

According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police reported to the Comfort Suites near 118th and Silver Spring after a caller indicated that “property had been taken from her by the defendant,” the complaint says. The caller indicated location data alerted her that the property was in the hotel parking lot. Daniels also had two warrants for his arrest.

The caller reached out to Daniels to come outside and meet her. Law enforcement were going to assist with arresting Daniels and getting the property back.

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The complaint indicates Daniels approached his car, and an officer followed and positioned himself behind an open rear door. He “drew his service weapon knowing that Daniels was reported to frequently be armed,” the complaint says. The officer ordered Daniels not to place the car in drive, but the complaint says Daniels ignored the orders and “accelerated in reverse in an attempt to flee (the officer).”

Arresting officer trapped in defendant’s vehicle

Dig deeper:

The officer, who was now being forced to back pedal, “realized he could not keep up with the quickly reversing vehicle, and feared he may be overtaken and crushed beneath the auto. (The officer) stated that he had to jump into the open rear passenger’s seat in order to escape the possibility of being knocked down beneath the oncoming vehicle’s door and tires,” the complaint says.

The defendant quickly accelerated out of the hotel parking lot with the officer in the rear seat. The officer “continually ordered him to stop the car,” the complaint says. The officer stated, “Daniels fled at a high rate of speed near 90 mph east on W. Silver Spring Drive while losing control and mounting the curb several times,” the complaint says. During this entire incident, the officer said he “kept his service weapon aimed at Daniels while in the back seat. Due to the speeds and reckless driving, (the officer) could not exit the vehicle,” the complaint says.

The court filing says the officer having his firearm pointed had no effect on Daniels pulling over the vehicle. Later, he put his weapon away to try and convince Daniels that he was not in danger and to pull over the vehicle. Instead, the defendant continued fleeing and driving recklessly, the complaint says.

Defendant bails, car crashes

What we know:

Near 92nd and Birch Avenue in Milwaukee, the complaint says, “Daniels opened the driver’s door and abandoned the vehicle which was still moving at approximately 35 mph.” The officer remained trapped in the rear passenger seat of the driverless vehicle which “came to a stop when it mounted the curb, continued into a front yard, and eventually crashed into a tree,” the complaint says. It is noted that Daniels’ vehicle had the child locks engaged, so the officer was unable to exit the vehicle on his own.

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Officers in other squads quickly located Daniels. The complaint indicates the defendant was “missing footwear in extremely frigid temperatures.” His footwear was recovered in a grassy area near where he was taken into custody.

What’s next:

Online court records indicate Daniels is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The Source: Information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access and the criminal complaint associated with this case.

Crime and Public SafetyMilwaukeeNews

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