Appleton Common Council seeks further assurance from APD on future surveillance

After several months of extensive research, Appleton Alderpersons Denise Fenton and Katie Van Zeeland introduced a resolution with clear standards and guidelines for surveillance technology in Appleton.

The review policy requires that any technologies involving automated mass surveillance/data collection and artificial intelligence acquired by the Appleton Police Department (APD) undergo public review and Common Council approval.

Fenton and Van Zeeland worked with Appleton administrators, the Appleton Police Department (APD), and engaged residents to raise privacy, access, security, and oversight concerns related to automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology and to create a transparent review policy for future mass surveillance technologies.

“Our community deserves a transparent process before powerful surveillance technologies are approved,” said Alderperson Van Zeeland. “This resolution makes sure Appleton asks the right questions before approving tools that could affect privacy, civil rights, and public safety.”

The resolution was presented at the Common Council meeting on Wednesday. It will likely be taken up by the Safety and Licensing Committee next week, with a possible council vote to come at the next Common Council meeting in two weeks.

The need for surveillance standards and guidelines grew out of the reported misuse of Flock cameras, which are used by Appleton and other municipalities.  A Flock camera is an automated license plate reader (ALPR) which automatically captures, analyzes, and stores vehicle and license plate information. 

Last fall, off-duty Menasha Police Officer Christian Morales allegedly searched the Appleton Flock Camera files seven times to locate his ex-girlfriend, using a “welfare” check as his rationale. In Milwaukee, a police officer allegedly used Flock’s system to track the location of two people nearly 200 times, entirely for personal reasons.

Such abuses, as well as concerns about insufficient guardrails to protect against them, a lack of transparency from Flock Safety representatives, and concerns about data sharing and civil rights have convinced the city of Appleton to discontinue use of the Flock automated license plate reader system.

Oshkosh and Grand Chute have also either terminated or are terminating their contracts with Flock Safety. 

Automated license plate readers can be important tools for public safety, including locating stolen or wanted vehicles and assisting with missing or endangered-person investigations. Fenton and Van Zeeland emphasized that the same data that can help in an emergency can create risk when access is not tightly controlled. Because APD may seek another tool or vendor to fill that need, the alderpersons say the review process should be in place before the next proposal comes forward.

“If another tool is proposed, Appleton should not be learning the details after the fact,” said Alderperson Fenton. “The public-safety case, privacy risks, data-security protections, vendor claims, and APD policy safeguards should all be reviewed before approval.”

Alderperson Denise Fenton represents Appleton’s District 6 and serves as Finance Committee Chair. Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland represents Appleton’s District 5. She is the longest-serving Common Council President in the City’s history, serving from 2022 to April 2026.