Chetek terminates Flock camera contract after resident backlash

1 September 2026. [AI first draft. Verify every fact against the source before publishing.]

The City of Chetek's Common Council voted Friday to terminate its three-year contract with Flock Safety and disable two license plate reading cameras installed in the city. The decision followed months of resident opposition centered on privacy and mass surveillance concerns. The cameras had been purchased by the police chief without approval from the city council, triggering significant public backlash. Residents' concerns escalated to the point that city officials received threats, prompting the city to deactivate its social media accounts earlier in September.

Chetek's action reflects a growing trend in Wisconsin of communities reconsidering ALPR camera deployments. The city of Sheboygan had previously moved to break its Flock contract and cover its cameras. In neighboring Rice Lake, one Flock camera was damaged in an arson attack over a weekend, though no suspects have been arrested [verify: arson determination, timeline].

The termination means Chetek residents can now request public records related to the contract, including the original purchase justification, cost figures, and city council correspondence about the decision to disable and terminate service. Residents in other Wisconsin communities can check their own city council agendas and minutes to determine whether similar camera contracts are in place, their renewal dates, and whether local officials have fielded public concerns about ALPR deployments.

Read the original reporting: 1330 & 101.5 WHBL.