Residents in Chetek, Wisconsin, and local leaders were incensed when they learned their police chief had installed two Flock Safety cameras in late May 2026 without informing the mayor or city council.
The cameras use artificial intelligence to gather data on vehicles that pass by them. Law enforcement agencies across the country have contracted with the company to install the cameras, which can read license plates and collect information on make, model, and other pieces of data unbeknownst to motorists who drive by them.
The revelation sparked a backlash, with people expressing concerns about privacy and government oversight during a city council meeting last week. The police chief tried to justify the move, but later apologized.
Citizens, the mayor, and the town council of Chetek, Wisconsin were surprised when they learned that Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis installed Flock cameras & AI tracking software in their town without notifying anyone.
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) July 21, 2026
He then acted like a tyrannical dictator when questioned… pic.twitter.com/M9Afz64doM
During the meeting, resident Zach Hodgson spoke out against the technology, saying he didn’t believe “we need a mass surveillance town in every city, in every town, in parks, everywhere.” He said he believed the police chief had good intentions, but criticized him for rolling out the cameras while keeping the rest of the city in the dark.
The chief defended his decision, saying “Everybody has outside cameras. I hate to say it, but it’s the way of the world,” and “in my world, in my world of investigation, it’s great. I have solved a lot of crimes in this town because of people’s Ring doorbells.”
“It’s MY equipment!” 👮♂️
— Libertarian Party (@LPNational) July 22, 2026
Chetek, Wisconsin Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis secretly installed Flock cameras with AI tracking software without informing the mayor, town council, or residents.
“I’m not in my office spying on people” 👁️ pic.twitter.com/6vkJtzdG5m
Of course, he didn’t mention that civilians using Ring cameras don’t have the ability to spy on people as they travel throughout the city or arrest people using evidence gathered from their devices.
Law enforcement has often touted the cameras as necessary for apprehending criminals and stressed that they are not being used to violate people’s rights. However, there have been several instances in which corrupt officers used the devices for personal purposes, spying on former romantic partners and other nefarious activities.
In fact, many cities announced over the past year that they are terminating their contracts with Flock Safety after people raised objections to having them in their neighborhoods.