Milwaukee, WI
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.
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Straight Arrow News
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 27th 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.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Jewish community to honor those killed in Australia terror attack at Hanukkah event
MILWAUKEE — To honor those who were killed on Sunday in Sydney, Australia during a Hanukkah event, Chabad of Milwaukee will be honoring the memory of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed, and all those affected at the Hanukkah Festival and Gelt Drop event at Bayshore Mall in Glendale on Sunday evening, according to Rabbi Levi Stein.
“Acts of hate and violence are meant to spread darkness and fear,” Stein said in a statement. “Tonight we are choosing to respond with more light.”
Rabbi Schlanger was among the 16 victims killed during the terrorist attack that occurred at the “Hanukkah by the Sea” event held at Bondi Beach in Australia.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
To honor the memory of Rabbi Schlanger and those affected, Chabad of Milwaukee will be handing out electric tea lights to those in attendance, giving out coins for Tzedakah (Charity), as well as encouraging everyone to do additional good deeds throughout the evening.
CEO of Chabad Lubavitch of Wisconsin, Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, urged the Milwaukee community, Jewish and not, in a statement, “to come together tonight, not only as an act of solidarity with the Jewish people, but as a declaration that all good people stand on the front lines of this moral struggle.”
“This is a moment for Jews and non-Jews alike to recognize that we are on the same side of history,” he said. “History has also shown that when good people stand together, evil loses.”
Chabad will also be increasing security, Stein said, and will also be working closely with local law enforcement to ensure that everyone remains safe and warm during the event.
Rabbi Schlanger’s wife, who was also shot but survived, was the roommate and classmate of Stein’s wife, Leah. “This tragedy hits painfully close to home,” Stein said.
“Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate Chanukah – but to reaffirm that light, goodness, and humanity will always outshine the darkness,” Stein added.
Southeast Wisconsin communities speak out
In a statement sent to TMJ4, Forward Latino, a local non-profit, non-partisan, service and advocacy organization in Franklin, called out to everyone to “join us in a moment of remembrance and prayer for those whose lives were lost, and then to recommit ourselves to standing against hate and bigotry in all their forms.”
“We are confronted with the painful reality that hate and antisemitism continue to be actively and passively promoted, while too few speak out with the urgency such moments demand,” the statement continued. “During this holiday season, a time of faith, reflection, and renewal, we must each look inward and ask ourselves, ‘What can I do to help eliminate hate?’”
The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Whitefish Bay posted a statement on social media thanking the Wisconsin Jewish Security Network, local law enforcement and everyone who works to keep the Jewish communities safe.
“Hanukkah is a holiday rooted in resilience – a reminder that even in moments of darkness, light endures,” the JCC wrote. “At the JCC, we believe the antidote to antisemitism is Jewish Joy, Connection, and Community, and we will not allow hate to silence our traditions or our plans to celebrate Hanukkah with our community today and for all eight nights.”
“Tonight, as we light our candles, we do so with broken hearts and in defiance of hate everywhere,” Co-Chair of the WisDems Jewish Caucus said in a statement sent to TMJ4. “We are resilient, and our community has never, and will never, hide away in response to this sort of violence.”
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(Courtesy: Milwaukee Admirals)
MILWAUKEE – Ryan Ufko and David Edstrom scored goals for the Admirals, but they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at historic Panther Arena.
Big picture view:
The loss extended the Ads losing streak to five games.
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By the numbers:
The Wolves grabbed an early lead when Bradley Nadeau potted his ninth goal of the season 8:21 into the game.
David Edstrom and the Admirals league-leading power-play knotted the score at one with just under seven minutes to play in the frame. With the penalty winding down, Cole Hara’s shot from between the wheels was deflected in by Edstrom for his fifth tally of the year.
However, the Wolves would score two more to close out the frame, including one by Domonic Fensore with just 0.7 seconds left in the first.
Milwaukee would get one back during the second period courtesy of a Ryan Ufko power-play marker. Stationed in the high slot, Ufko took a feed from Daniel Carr and ripped a one-timer over the shoulder of Chicago netminder Amir Miftakhov.
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The Ads pressed for the tying goal and had a 6-on-4 advantage late in the third period, but Chicago’s Justin Robidas scored an empty-netter to seal the deal for the Wolves.
What’s next:
The Admirals will hit the road for their final three games before the Christmas break, beginning Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. against the Wolves. The Ads’ next home contest will be on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Source: The Milwaukee Admirals provided this report.
MILWAUKEE – An issue at the Valley Power Plant caused a temporary steam outage for downtown Milwaukee buildings on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Steam service interrupted
What we know:
According to We Energies, the gas supply to the Valley Power Plant was interrupted on Saturday morning, causing it to go offline. The plant produces steam for downtown buildings for heating.
We Energies says it has restored service to the steam system and is bringing steam back to customers, but the restoration process requires steam pressure to build back up in the steam system. Once pressure reaches safe levels, steam service can be delivered to customers.
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Customers should begin to see service return over the next few hours, and some are already restored.
We Energies says it does not anticipate any more steam outages, and that this issue is not affecting electric or natural gas service.
Show canceled
What we know:
The Marcus Performing Arts Center says its building has been impacted by the steam outage and, as a result, had to cancel its 1 p.m. matinée performance of The Pigeon Gets A Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!
Ticket holders will be contacted directly to get further information about next steps.
All other shows at the Marcus Performing Arts Center will go on as scheduled.
The Source: We Energies and The Marcus Performing Arts Center sent FOX6 the information.
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