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Administrative police building, 951 N. James Lovell St. Photo by Christopher Hillard.
THE Milwaukee police departmentThe plans of the purchase of new technologies have gained praise from the members of the common council as well as a serious concern of the American Union of Civil Liberties of Wisconsinwhich fears the growing use of surveillance technology will create videos on citizens who will inevitably be shared without discrimination.
The technology is purchased as part of a federal purchasing list of $ 1.17 million 2025 Federal Asset Flawed The Ministry recently won the approval of the Council. This includes $ 250,000 for 16 new drones and $ 45,000 for training to use them, such as Urban Milwaukee before reported.
The total budget also includes $ 38,000 for community engagement, which includes funding for the police sports league and the articles offered, $ 250,000 for technological systems (including a gladiator mobile phone monitoring program, a document reduction system, a video upgrade of the merger center and a video storage system), $ 179,000 for training and travel and $ 604,000 and simulation training equipment.
The use of new technologies, including drones, is supported by certain members of the Council.
“I’m glad we were going to a new era, using technology to provide this public security layer for our community. Sharlen P. Moore March 21 Public security and health committee meeting.
Other members of the Council, including Marina Dimitrijevic,, Peter Burgelis And Scott Spikerwould like to see the ministry using financing to associate with districts for improving companies and other groups to partially finance the lease of Herds’ camerasCameras mounted on the pole that can read license plates to find stolen cars or detect the gunshots. But the department officials said MPD focus on not using the funding for recurring expenses.
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The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin wants the city to be completely in the opposite direction and stop spending on new surveillance technology for at least two years.
“While we hope that our local and police leaders can have good intentions, history reminds us how much larger systems can replace these intentions. Already, we look at the cameras on private buildings. Predict – or stop, “said the aclu in a letter to the council.
MPD received approximately $ 1.84 million in asset confiscation in 2024, compared to $ 740,000 in the previous year.
“It is not predictable each year,” said MPD finance director Laura Engan to the finance and staff committee on February 26. She said the ministry had decided to put recurring expenses as a result in its operating budget, but the demand for 2025 still includes around $ 100,000 for 30 -year lease from MPD to MKE Urban Stables.
“We think it is important to leave a balance, which would be about $ 600,000 in the trust,” she said.
The reserve offers flexibility to the department when unexpected problems arise, said Engan. Who understands The 2022 decision to replace all the pistols in the department After several failed incidents.
The federal government has changed the way services can use funds in March 2024. Regulations include the ban on the local director to determine directly how money is spent.
“It cannot be used for general overtime to finance the department,” said Engan. She said the ministry can no longer finance food or entertainment fees, which he has done before with his national Night Out programming. This funding, around $ 35,000, is now in the Gram general fund.
Eternal Milele A. Coggs It is normal that National Night Out is no longer funded by confiscation funds, but she still wants to see community members having a voice in the way funds are spent.
“This does not mean, however, that you do not take part of this money and that you find ways to do things that are legally authorized that residents want by district,” said Coggs, referring to a previous push of the Council to imply community members.
Engan said that 90% of the 2024 income from the Federal Asset Fund Fund from cash seizures, but it may also include the seizure and sale of real estate, vehicles and other equipment.
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