Spartanburg Police Harnessing Power of ‘Flock’ Cameras in Crime-Fighting Efforts
Spartanburg, S.C – In an innovative step towards a safer community, Spartanburg Police Department is deploying ‘Flock’ license plate reader cameras to aid in the fight against crime. These devices are touted as a valuable addition to the department’s arsenal acting as an extra set of vigilant eyes. “They are a tool, and another tool in our toolbox,” commented Spartanburg Police Captain Tim Metz.
‘Flock’ Cameras: A New Surveillance Aid
Making a significant impact on local crime rates, the Spartanburg Police Department currently has 11 Flock cameras strategically mounted in different parts of the city in conjunction with four mobile units. Metz explains, “Flock is a proprietary brand which is invested in license plate readers or LPR’s as they are commonly referred to.”
Though seemingly unassuming, these cameras play an enormous role in enhancing the safety of the Spartanburg community. The cameras work by photographing license plates of vehicles traversing through the public highways within the Spartanburg vicinity and beyond. The data obtained is massive. “Our population grows to nearly 100,000 people during the day. So, each of our 11 stationary cameras roughly, on a daily basis, we will get 80,000 reads, which is pretty incredible. Over the last 30 days, we have about 2 million reads, of those 2 million maybe 1% has any significance to law enforcement and that’s an example of the volume we deal with,” Metz elaborates.
Ensuring Public Safety and Privacy
Although the Flock cameras are deployed in high traffic areas as part of a strategic plan, the Spartanburg Police Department assures the public that these devices are not used to invade individual privacy. Instead, the cameras capture images of vehicle license plates on public roads only.
Advancing Law Enforcement Capability
The information collected by these Flock cameras can be directly accessed by law enforcement to aid in a number of circumstances. “We really have narrowed our focus to felony activity, stolen vehicles, stolen tags, Amber Alerts, blue alerts, silver alerts, things like that,” states Metz. This technology occasionally acts as a vital aid in tracking down suspects during high-priority cases such as abductions, bank robberies, and shootings. When a vehicle is related to a significant crime, it is added to the ‘hot list’, enabling every officer in the system to identify and track the vehicle should it appear within the camera network.
Future Prospects
The Spartanburg Police Department expanded its Flock program in October and has recently elevated its capabilities by installing additional cameras. As the department makes full use of the considerable benefits offered by these cameras, law enforcement officers are increasingly able to serve and protect the community in a more timely and efficient manner, making Spartanburg a safer place to live.
Source: HERE News Network
