MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Manitowoc will not renew its contract with Flock when the agreement expires in early 2027, and the city has asked the company to remove its cameras “as soon as possible,” Mayor Justin Nickels said.
In a statement, Nickels said the cameras installed under the agreement are owned by Flock, not the city, and that is why Manitowoc has not “bagged or altered them.” Instead, he said, “All cameras have been fully deactivated, and our team verifies that status regularly.”
Nickels also sought to reassure residents about privacy concerns tied to similar systems elsewhere, saying Manitowoc “did not experience the data selling or tracking concerns reported in other communities.”
Looking ahead, Nickels said his upcoming 2027 executive budget will not include funding for Flock or “any similar citywide camera system.”
He said the city will continue investing in other public safety tools from companies that operate in the same broader field as Flock, but that provide different services. “So if you see one of those names in the budget, it reflects tools like tasers or parking related technology, not any citywide ALPR or surveillance network,” Nickels said.
“We remain committed to transparency, safety, and protecting community trust,” he said.
