High-tech Cameras Agree with Fort Worth, TX, Police Department
If you have the technology, why not use it. The Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) is focused on a new camera solution to track down violent criminals. The city is concerned about high-crime areas, has placed more than 60 solar-powered license-plate readers throughout the city. The solution has resulted in dozens of arrests.
Sgt. Dalton Webb, oversees the program for FWPD says the solution is more than cameras waiting and watching. Once license plate data is collected, it is pushed through a data base, and within seconds an officer that that area is alerted if the car is stolen or if that car is associated with someone wanted for a felony.
The cameras were installed about three months ago; FWOD has made more than 165 arrests, including two murder suspects, and including car thieves and persons wanted for violent crimes. Webb said they have recovered 118 vehicles, taken 14 guns off the street and recovered more than $1.5 million in recovered vehicles.
Best of all, the cameras work 24/7, and to make the solution more effective FWPD has dedicated a group of officers to follow leads during a specific time. The way it works, officers are assigned to specific (high crime) areas and wait for the cameras to make a hit. The details come to the officers, who then respond.
There are some protocols that police follow while using the Atlanta-based Flock Safety cameras, such as data is purged after 30 days so that privacy concerns are seriously dealt with. FWPD leases the cameras from Flock Safety for $2,000 per camera, per year.