Oshkosh weighs next step on license plate readers after Flock fallout

At Oshkosh’s June 16 Common Council meeting, the conversation shifted from ending the city’s Flock contract to figuring out what, if anything, replaces it. Local reporting says police are still in the discussion stage, and no new vendor has been selected.

That matters because the city is not just swapping one piece of hardware for another. It is deciding how much weight to give a tool that police say can help solve crimes, against concerns about privacy, data security and possible misuse.

What police say they want next

WBAY reported that Police Chief Dean Smith said the department is talking with a new company, but he did not name a vendor. The Oshkosh Northwestern, republished by Blue Water Healthy Living, said the department has not launched a formal replacement search and instead wants an advisory committee to review the next step.

Under that idea, the committee would include an independent cybersecurity chair, city information technology staff, police representatives and community members who both support and oppose automated license plate readers. Its job would be to recommend a replacement vendor, if the city chooses one, and the security and operating rules that should go with the system.

That slower approach fits the way Oshkosh got here. The city rescinded its Flock contract after briefly approving an amended one-year deal, citing trust and integrity concerns. The previous cameras were powered off and covered after the contract change, so the current discussion is about a future system, not an active one already in place.

Why the debate is still active

Supporters say license plate readers can help investigators find stolen vehicles and track suspects tied to crimes. Critics say the systems can expand surveillance, create security risks and open the door to misuse.

Wisconsin Public Radio has reported that Oshkosh is part of a broader statewide pullback from Flock, with other Wisconsin communities also ending or revising contracts. That does not decide Oshkosh’s next move, but it shows the city is making this choice amid a wider debate.

For now, the key takeaway is simple: Oshkosh has not picked a replacement vendor, and the next step appears to be more review before any new ALPR system is approved. Residents watching the issue should look for an advisory committee announcement, a future agenda item or another council vote.

Sources

• City of Oshkosh Public Meeting Calendar
• WBAY: Oshkosh council considers future of license plate cameras
• The Oshkosh Northwestern via Blue Water Healthy Living: Oshkosh looks beyond Flock for license plate reader cameras
• Wisconsin Public Radio: Wisconsin communities end contracts with surveillance company Flock