Oshkosh forms camera review commission after ending Flock contract

Oshkosh has moved from canceling its Flock Safety contract to deciding what comes next. The city is not stepping away from license-plate readers altogether; it is looking for a replacement vendor after the June 16 council action and the security concerns that drove it.

That shifts the debate from whether Oshkosh should use the technology to how the next system should be overseen, who can access the data, and what standards the city will require before it signs a new deal.

What the council changed

WBAY reported that the Common Council ended the Flock contract after trust and security concerns surfaced. NBC26 reported that the city ended its subscription with Flock Safety at the recommendation of Police Chief Dean Smith, while still planning to keep license-plate readers in some form through another vendor.

The city first approved Flock cameras in 2022, which shows how quickly the policy changed once the privacy and security questions rose to the top.

What happens next

WTAQ reported that Oshkosh police are looking for a new company and that the city created a commission that includes police officials, a cybersecurity expert, the IT department, and Oshkosh residents.

Chief Smith said the effort is meant to produce recommendations that can guide the department as it reviews alternatives. No replacement vendor has been chosen, and no new contract has been approved.

Why residents should watch

For residents, commuters, and business owners, the main issue now is oversight. The council has already cut ties with one vendor, but the next agreement could shape how data is stored, secured, and reviewed.

Oshkosh appears likely to keep some version of the technology, so the next council discussions may matter as much as the vote that ended the old contract.

Sources

• WBAY — Oshkosh council considers future of license plate cameras
• WTAQ — Oshkosh looking into new license plate-reading cameras after ending Flock contract
• NBC26 — Oshkosh ends Flock Safety contract but will keep license plate readers
• City of Oshkosh — Public Meeting Calendar
• Oshkosh Police Department — Police Directory