New Jersey Police Department Modernizes Its ALPR Technology

  • Jan 08, 2024

Genetec Inc., a provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, announced that the Fort Lee, New Jersey Police Department has modernized its automatic license plate recognition technology (ALPR) with Genetec AutoVu™ Cloudrunner vehicle-centric investigative system.

The Borough of Fort Lee is connected to Manhattan, NY, via the George Washington Bridge. Its proximity to the major city brings traffic congestion and some transient crime to the area. Its legacy ALPR system generated just a list of plates and vehicles, and teams would then manually sort and narrow the data to find the vehicle in question. The PD looked to minimize that investigative time to find suspects and close cases faster with better access to vehicle information.

They found the solution in Genetec AutoVu Cloudrunner, a solar-powered, subscription-based, easy-to-install, turnkey solution that uses vehicle characteristics combined with ALPR to enhance police departments’ ability to solve crimes. Its high-quality sensors deliver accurate reads day and night, in any kind of weather.

“AutoVu Cloudrunner has incredible edge-based intelligence and search capabilities,” said Fort Lee Police Department Lieutenant Thomas Porto. “When we’re looking for a vehicle the search is wicked fast, and being able to narrow down searches by make, model, color and time frame helps us speed up our investigation.”

Porto shared a recent case where the department received a 911 call late at night from a housing facility who observed suspicious individuals in a vehicle on the property. Tapping the AutoVu Cloudrunner camera in the area, the PD was able to use the time frame, location, and vehicle description to match the license plate info, which identified it as stolen. When the suspects abandoned the vehicle at a nearby school with which the PD had federated video, they were able to use the Genetec Omnicast™ video management system to see where the suspects had gone, quickly apprehending them safely.

The AutoVu Cloudrunner solution is solar-powered and plug-and-play complete, making it easy for the Fort Lee PD to deploy “We mounted the cameras, worked with Genetec for a few minutes, and were off to the races,” Porto said.

The audit features of AutoVu Cloudrunner also help cut down investigative time and resources. When they start a search, for example, they only need to enter the case number once, and all subsequent searches in that query will be tied to that case number and logged in audit trails for compliance. “This is such a game-changer,” said Porto. “With our previous system, we’d need to re-enter the case number and other information for every single search. That was cumbersome and slowed our investigative work. AutoVu Cloudrunner eliminates all of that.”

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.