CF Chief Douglas seeks funding for street cameras
CHIPPEWA FALLS — The city of Chippewa Falls is once again looking at purchasing street cameras that can read license plates that are credited with solving a myriad of crimes, from locating stolen cars to halting kidnappings.
Chippewa Falls Police Chief Ryan Douglas has requested the city purchase several new 'Flock' cameras that can record license plates as vehicles go through the city.
'There are no Flock cameras installed in Chippewa County right now,' Douglas told the city's public safety committee. 'It's a camera that faces the road and takes pictures of the road.'
Former Police Chief Matt Kelm requested the city purchase the Flock cameras two years ago, but it didn't pass at that time.
The Flock cameras 'are somewhat unique in that they not only detect a license plate number, but the software can also detect type of vehicle, color, unique characteristics, etc.,' Kelm wrote in his fall 2023 budget request. 'Vehicles entered into a wanted list, based upon their involvement in reported criminal acts, that are detected by the (cameras) will cause a real-time alert to be sent to officers that a vehicle for which law enforcement is looking for drove by one of the cameras within the city.'
Roughly 5,000 communities in 42 states are using the Flock cameras, the company states on its website.
Douglas said he is hopeful of getting six to 10 of the cameras that would be placed along major transportation corridors in city limits.
'We would be connected to this nationwide system,' he told the committee. 'The technology has been there for several years. I do think we are behind the curve in not having this technology in our area.'
Douglas said Rice Lake, Menomonie and Eau Claire all have these cameras.
Flock cameras have been credited with the arrest of Jose E. Dominguez-Garcia, who killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend and left her body in a suitcase in the town of Wheaton in July 2020. Dominguez-Garcia was arrested in a suburb of Kansas City, Mo., in November 2023 after a Flock camera recognized he was driving a stolen vehicle. Dominguez-Garcia was sentenced last month to serve 25 years in prison. That arrest took place months after Kelm had requested the city obtain the cameras.
'It goes into a nationwide database,' he said. 'We've had crimes and missing persons located out of state.'
The council members on the committee asked Douglas to set up a meeting with the Flock sales team so they can learn more about how the equipment works, but also to ask questions about how privacy matters are handled.
'I'm torn because I hate the idea of living in '1984,'' said Councilwoman Heather Martell. 'But if they are nationwide, how would we handle The Freedom of Information Act?'
Douglas said they are still working on creating a policy for sharing data collected by the cameras.
Mayor Jason Hiess said he also is concerned about privacy.
Councilman Scott Sullivan said his vehicle was stolen when he lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., and he quickly reported it. Because that city had Flock cameras, the car was located within an hour and was returned to Sullivan.
Douglas said he will contact Flock officials and have them come to a future committee meeting to discuss the proposal.
Preparing for the fair
With the Northern Wisconsin State Fair now just a month away, Douglas said his department has ramped up plans for added security.
Douglas said they have increased from having two officers at the fair to six. Also, the fair has its own private security on the grounds.
'We're able to staff it by ourselves right now,' Douglas said.
It is common for officers at the fairgrounds to use bicycles, allowing them to get quickly across the fair.
Douglas said they did have an officer injured at the fairgrounds last year.
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