MEDIA RELEASE – Flock Automated License Plate Recognition Cameras
Police Department Press Release, Public Safety
March 20, 2024
March 20, 2024
Released by Maj. B. Henderson
On Tuesday night, August 22, 2023, the Pittsburg City Commission voted to enter into a two-year lease agreement with Flock Group, Inc., for 14 of Flock’s Falcon License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras and access to Flock’s network operating system in an effort to help reduce and solve crime.
Flock Safety LPR cameras send a real-time alert to law enforcement when a stolen motor vehicle or known wanted suspect from a state or national crime database is detected. They also send real-time alerts if a vehicle associated with a missing persons case from an AMBER or Silver Alert is detected.
The Flock Safety system helps law enforcement investigate crime by providing the objective evidence needed to detect and clear cases. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), 7 in 10 crimes are committed with a vehicle, and that 97% of car thieves are charged with additional crimes, including robbery, burglary, theft, drug trafficking and violent person crimes.
Flock Safety LPR cameras capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, such as make, model and vehicle color, but they do not capture readily identifying images of people or their faces, and they do not utilize facial recognition software. Additionally, the Flock Safety LPR cameras are not designed for remote or automated enforcement of traffic violations and will not be used in this capacity.
Each search within Flock Safety’s operating system requires a recorded justification, which is verifiable through audits and backed by department policy. Additionally, Flock Safety offers a publicly accessible Transparency Portal, which is an online dashboard that can share the department’s usage and outcomes relating to the use of Flock’s LPR system. The Pittsburg Police Department intends to fully utilize this Transparency Portal and will offer an online link to this system at a later time.
Flock Safety cameras are used in more than 4,000 communities across the country, and the company works with over 3,000 law enforcement agencies. Flock Safety currently helps law enforcement solve 10% of reported crime in the United States, and communities using Flock Safety LPR’s have reported crime reductions of up to 70%.
The Pittsburg Police Department is joining several other law enforcement agencies in our area who are already using Flock Safety LPR’s, including the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, Allen County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Chanute Police Department, Coffeyville Police Department, Frontenac Police Department and the Parsons Police Department.
“At Flock Safety, we believe in building strong bonds between police departments and the citizens they pledge to protect, and we’re proud to partner with the Pittsburg Police Department to help them in the pursuit of public safety,” said Garrett Langley, CEO of Flock Safety.
About Flock Safety:
Flock Safety is an all-in-one technology solution to eliminate crime and keep your community safe. Our intelligent platform combines the power of communities at scale – including cities, businesses, schools, and law enforcement agencies – to shape a safer future together. Flock Safety does not sell or share data with third parties. Our full-service, maintenance-free technology solution is trusted by more than 4,000 communities across the country to help solve and deter crime in the pursuit of safer communities for everyone. Visit www.flocksafety.com for more info.
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