Wausau Police Department. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — In light of recent controversy and misuse of traffic cameras in Wisconsin, Wausau’s Detective Captain was summoned to Monday’s Public Health and Safety Committee meeting to brief Alders on how they manage the system.
Captain Ben Graham says his team has found the system to be useful, describing it as a “force multiplier” that allows them to close cases more quickly and efficiently than before. “This doesn’t replace officers, but it makes us more efficient. We are able to close cases that wouldn’t otherwise be closed.”
He emphasized that images are stored for 30 days before they are purged from the system, unless they become evidence. Additionally, misuse of the system is not tolerated, and no officer can access it without leaving a detailed digital footprint. “Every single month I am looking through a variety of flagged searches. These searches are flagged because they fit a certain behavior that might be indicative of misuse.”
Those behaviors included searching the same plate in consecutive 30-day periods or repeatedly searching a plate. Entering the database and searching cameras outside of Wausau would also raise a flag.
“I am going through those red-flagged alerts on a monthly basis,” said Graham. “I have not not found misuse in our system.”
He added that Wausau shares data with other Police Departments in Wisconsin, but does not share data with the Federal Bureau of Investigation or Department of Homeland Security. Data is also not shared outside of Wisconsin as of last month. He says that allows them to keep information about an active investigation from being leaked by another state through an open records request. “Some states say [that] data is restricted from open records, it can’t be released. Other states are sharing all of it, and that can be detrimental to our cases.”
Captain Graham provided examples of more than 30 cases that have been closed thanks to evidence provided by the cameras. Many involved stolen cars, drug deals, and hit-and-run incidents.
Monday’s presentation was for information only.
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