OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — Just one day after Oshkosh City Council approved a renewal contract with Flock Group Inc., city leadership reversed its decision to keep the traffic surveillance cameras in the city.
The unanimous vote to end the contract came in a special meeting Wednesday, after Oshkosh Police learned that statements made Tuesday by Flock officials regarding the cameras' analytical capabilities were false.
"Last night's decision was the wrong one," Council Member Brad Spanbauer told the council and a gathering of about 30 Oshkosh residents Wednesday night.
Oshkosh Mayor Matt Mugerauer added that ending the contract was the right decision. "This is the only step forward," Mugerauer stated.
Oshkosh Police Chief Dean Smith said the department still supports the use of surveillance cameras in the city. Council members noted that conversations about new possible vendors will come in the near future.
"Our staff, our police officers, they believe in this type of technology, but they want to make sure we get it right," Smith said Wednesday.
The situation has raised privacy and trust concerns among community members. Oshkosh resident Meg Johnson attended both the Tuesday and Wednesday night council meetings to express reservations about the cameras.
"After the reveal of this new evidence, how can we trust anything they [Flock respresentatives] say?" Johnson asked the council to consider Wednesday.
Watch the full story by Jessica Goska here:
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...Police chief says security concerns and misrepresentations led to unanimous reversal less than 24 hours after approval OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) - The Oshkosh City Council voted unanimously to rescind i...