Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Common Council explores license plate cameras, prompting surveillance concerns

Published

11 months ago

June 11, 2025

Press Room

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 Brewers Flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski Has Historic Night Against Yankees – World Baseball Network

Published

7 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Brewers Flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski Has Historic Night Against Yankees – World Baseball Network

The Milwaukee Brewers shut out the New York Yankees in a 6-0 victory on Friday night, and Jacob Misiorowski was dominated at a historic level.

In the first two innings of Friday night’s game, Misiorowski threw eight of the 10 fastest pitches ever by a starting pitcher. Of those eight, seven are now the fastest pitches ever thrown by a starting pitcher, according to Codify Baseball.

Misiorowski’s velocity has been a major topic of discussion ever since he made his debut last season. He lights up the radar gun early in games, but usually sees his velocity drop as the game goes on. However, in the fifth inning, he was able to throw a 103 mph fastball to Ryan McMahon. He also threw a 102.7 mph fastball to Cody Bellinger in the sixth inning.

Misiorowski leads all of baseball in strikeouts, notching his 70th strikeout of the season in the sixth inning of Friday’s game. Misiorowski has a 2.45 ERA on the season and had 11 strikeouts against the Yankees. The 60 fastest pitches thrown by a starting pitcher this season all belong to the Brewers ace.

It was Misiorowski’s first time facing the Yankees, and it was not just fans who were left in awe. Spencer Jones, the Yankees’ No. 6 prospect, made his MLB debut on Friday night and felt happy to just foul a pitch off against the flamethrowing righty.

“I’ve never seen pitches that hard in my life,” Jones said after the game, per MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. “To foul off a couple is pretty great, so I’ll take that for now.”

Misiorowski’s teammate, Sal Frelick, was also in disbelief when Misiorowski kept touching triple digits late in the game.

“I kept looking up at the velo after every pitch as he got deep,” Frelick said per McCalvy. “I couldn’t believe it.”

Misiorowski picked a great night to showcase his best stuff. CC Sabathia was in the house to be inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor, and he gave Misiorowski a glowing endorsement before the game.

“I love Misiorowski,” said Sabathia, per McCalvy. “I think he’s going to be a great pitcher.

“Honestly, he reminds me of myself as a young pitcher.”

If Misiorowski can become the type of player Sabathia was, he will be breaking records for years to come. He has played his best in big games so far in his career, but he is still only 24 and getting better with every start.

He credited adrenaline to his sustained velocity on Friday, so it makes sense that he has his best stuff in big games.

Photo: Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

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Milwaukee Weather: Mild and breezy Saturday, slight chance of showers

Published

19 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels

Partly sunny skies on Saturday with a slight chance for a few sprinkles or a shower.
Temperatures warmer on Saturday in the mid to upper 60s. Isolated 70s near the border. Breezy with winds gusting near 30mph.
Cooler temperatures in the upper 50s on Sunday (Mother’s Day) with increasing clouds. Patchy frost Saturday night into Sunday and Sunday night into Monday.
Next chance of rain and storms arrives on Tuesday.

Today: Partly sunny. A few showers possible. Breezy.
High: 67°
Wind: NW 10-25

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Patchy frost.
Low: 42°
Wind: NW 5-10

Sunday: Increasing clouds.
High: 57°
Wind: NW 5-15

Monday: Mostly sunny.
AM Low: 39° High: 59°
Wind: E 5-10

Tuesday: Warm and windy. Chance storms.
AM Low: 42° High: 68°
Wind: SW 10-25

Wednesday:Partly sunny.
AM Low: 46° High: 59°
Wind: NW 5-15

Thursday: Mostly sunny.
AM Low: 42° High: 64°
Wind: S 5-10

6-day planner

FOX6 Weather Extras

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:

FOX6 Storm Center app

FOX LOCAL Mobile app

FOX Weather app

FOX Weather

Big picture view:

Maps and radar

We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.

School and business closings

When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.

FOX6 Weather Experts in social media

WeatherDaily ForecastMilwaukee

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Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation while honoring Milwaukee teachers

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation while honoring Milwaukee teachers

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Bobby Portis Foundation hosted a luncheon Friday at Roosevelt Middle School to honor teachers — many of whom are also mothers — with Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week overlapping on the calendar.

Portis and his mother, Tina Edwards, spent the day celebrating educators and reflecting on the mission behind the foundation.

“We just want to make sure that we let the teachers know you are appreciated because sometimes it goes beyond being a parent at home, but sometimes teachers are parents at school,” Edwards explained.

Ariel Campos, TMJ4 Sports

Bobby Portis signs autographs for students at Roosevelt Middle School.

For Portis, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, the foundation has always been rooted in one person.

“The Bobby Portis Foundation has always just been solely based upon really my mom, and that’s the inspiration behind it,” Portis said.

WATCH: Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation

Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation while honoring Milwaukee teachers

Growing up, Portis watched his mother raise four boys on her own.

“My mom worked tirelessly to take care of all four of us,” Portis said.

Edwards made sacrifices for her sons from the very beginning — including turning down a basketball scholarship after becoming pregnant with Bobby.

“I still was offered a scholarship after I had him, but I wanted to choose him over ball,” Edwards said.

Tina Edwards (Bobby Portis — Tina Edwards turned down her college basketball scholarship to raise Bobby Portis as a single mom.

That sacrifice brought her full circle through her son’s career.

“With Bobby becoming an NBA player, he’s living my dream, and I’m living the dream through him,” Edwards shared.

For Portis, the event was an opportunity to honor everything his mother has given him.

“I can’t just put into words what my mom has done for me, not only for my basketball career – that’s just like a small portion of my life – I’m talking about just me as a human being, as a man. I mean, I didn’t have a dad growing up, so my mom played both roles. She did a hell of a job raising not only me but my three other brothers,” Portis said.

His grandmother’s message to spread his blessings continues to drive his work.

“Being able to be in a position now to have a voice, to have a platform, to give back, to help inspire. I try to use it to the best of my abilities,” Portis said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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