The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is on the verge of approving the use of facial recognition technology, which contradicts earlier statements denying involvement with a controversial contract. The decision has surprised many stakeholders, who were blindsided by the news revealed during a community advisory board meeting.
At the meeting on Feb. 16, Sheriff Denita Ball and her team disclosed that she had signed an intent to engage with Biometrica, a Las Vegas-based company that offers photo comparison technology to match photos with a large database. It remains unclear when this decision was made.
In December, the Sheriff’s Office assured supervisors that no contract had been signed with the facial recognition company. However, an email thread obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shows Supervisor Sky Capriolo seeking contract details on Feb. 17.
Chief Deputy Brian Barkow clarified in response that while the office had expressed intent to contract with Biometrica, no finalized contract was in place. The agreement is still in draft form and awaiting the statutory county signing process, with no associated costs confirmed.
Supervisor Justin Bielinski, chair of the county’s judiciary and legislation committee, expressed shock at the news. He urged the Sheriff’s Office to reconsider proceeding with any agreement involving facial recognition technology, especially if data sharing goes beyond legal requirements.
Requests for comment from spokespeople for the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and County Executive David Crowley went unanswered initially.
An increasing number of Milwaukee citizens and politicians have criticized local law enforcement’s interest in this technology due to concerns about racial bias and unwarranted surveillance. Many believe it poses risks and should be strictly regulated.
Bielinski criticized the timing of the decision to advance while the city had recently halted similar technology pursuits, calling it insensitive. He vowed to use all available means to prevent contract approval if the Sheriff’s Office persists.
To address fears of potential covert technology use, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors recommended developing a policy framework for facial recognition technology last summer. The policy’s main goal is to safeguard civil rights and liberties, emphasizing the need for explicit regulatory oversight before acquiring new surveillance technology.
Previous statements from Ball and Barkow highlighted the legal scrutiny of the department’s data sharing policies following an approach by Biometrica. All procedures were to align with constitutional rights and minimize legal risks for Milwaukee County.
While the Milwaukee Police Department initially sought facial recognition technology, they later paused plans to sign a contract due to public opposition, community feedback, and a tumultuous political environment. This decision followed revelations of ongoing technology use through external borrowing, surprising those who believed it had been discontinued.
Contributions to this report were made by David Clarey of the Journal Sentinel staff.
