Milwaukee Detective Faces Charges Over Misuse of License Plate Reader System
A Milwaukee Police Department detective is under fire for allegedly exploiting a license plate camera reader system, sparking concerns about internal accountability and public trust. The allegations have raised questions about the ethical use of surveillance technology within the department.
Detective Tehrangi Chapman, who has served in the department for 22 years, was charged with felony misconduct in public office and misuse of a GPS device. According to the criminal complaint, Chapman, a member of the internal affairs division, admitted to using the Flock camera system 20 times to track two individuals, which contravenes Milwaukee Police Department policies.
The Flock camera system captures and stores images of license plates, and this data can be shared with other law enforcement agencies.
Milwaukee Fire and Police Commissioner Krissie Fung described the charges as “unspeakably troubling,” emphasizing the impact on public trust, especially since Chapman was part of the department’s internal accountability mechanism. “In particular, the fact that this is a member of the internal affairs division, which is supposed to be a core part of MPD’s internal accountability mechanism — it also has a disproportionate effect on public trust,” Fung stated.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman reiterated the importance of ethical standards, saying, “No one is above the law. We expect all members of this department — both sworn officers and professional staff — to uphold the highest ethical standards. We will continue to take decisive action to preserve public trust and honor the values of this organization.”
This case follows a similar incident involving Milwaukee police officer Josue Ayala, who was charged earlier for using the camera system for personal reasons. Ayala pleaded guilty to attempted misconduct and subsequently resigned.
The complaint against Chapman revealed that he used the camera system 17 times between January 2024 and January 2025 to trace a vehicle belonging to one individual and admitted to installing a GPS device on the vehicle. Additionally, he conducted searches on another person’s license plate under the pretense of “training.” Notably, Chapman had been leading the investigation into Officer Ayala’s misuse of the same system.
A department memorandum clearly states that the Flock system is intended for investigative purposes only, and any unauthorized access could result in disciplinary action. Chapman has been suspended since March 13, with a court appearance slated for July 17. His attorney was unavailable for comment.
Amanda Merkwae of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin expressed concern over Chapman’s role in internal affairs, noting, “Internal affairs is supposed to be this ultimate check on police corruption or abuse. When the very detective who was assigned to investigate the abuse of Flock from another officer had allegedly already used that exact same technology to stalk people, this kind of illusion of self-policing as an effectiveness, just really crumbles.”
MoMo Zhou, a spokesperson for Flock Safety, emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “This case is exactly why Flock builds our technology to include immutable, transparent audit trails, so rare cases of potential abuse can be detected, investigated, and addressed.”
Following Ayala’s charges, the Milwaukee Police Department announced revisions to system access and audit processes.
Some Wisconsin Communities Sever Ties with Flock
Concerns over privacy and data sharing have led several Wisconsin communities to discontinue their contracts with Flock Safety. The Verona Common Council decided against renewing its Flock contract last November, and Dane County supervisors voted overwhelmingly in April to cut funding for the cameras.
The University of Wisconsin – Madison Police Department also opted out of renewing its Flock contract, aiming to find a vendor that better aligns with public safety needs and addresses community concerns. Similarly, the city of Kaukauna announced it was not renewing its Flock contract due to financial and collaborative issues, as stated by Chief of Police Jamie Graff.
