El Cajon Council approves automated license plate readers
By SDCN Editor
El Cajon, CA–The El Cajon City Council approved on March 14 a one-year pilot program for the El Cajon Police Department’s use of automated license plate reading (ALPR) cameras to bolster public safety, curb criminal activities, and enhance law enforcement’s ability to crack down on vehicle-related crimes.
The cameras are built by Flock Safety, a public safety technology company that helps neighborhoods, communities, and law enforcement work together to fight crime.
Flock Safety ALPR cameras send a real-time alert to law enforcement when a stolen car or known wanted suspect from a state or national crime database is detected. They also send alerts if a vehicle associated with a missing person in an AMBER or Silver Alert is detected.
The safety system also helps law enforcement solve crime by providing the objective evidence needed for investigations. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, seven in ten crimes are committed with a vehicle.
The ALPR cameras capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, not people or faces. Each search requires a justification and the data is never sold or shared with third parties outside law enforcement. All data captured by ALPR cameras are automatically deleted after 30 days unless determined to have evidentiary value. The cameras solve and reduce property and violent crime, locate missing persons, and are not intended for minor traffic or parking violations. Additionally, the cameras are not used for immigration enforcement.
On July 28, a select number of El Cajon Police Department members underwent comprehensive system administrator training provided by Flock Safety. The training equipped them with in-depth knowledge of the proper utilization of the ALPR system, including handling real-time alert notifications. They also learned how to conduct system audits to ensure full compliance with local, state, and federal laws, guaranteeing the system’s ethical and lawful operation. Other users of the ALPR system are receiving training this week, after which they will have access to the system.
In an impressive display of the ALPR cameras’ effectiveness, the El Cajon Police Department witnessed two successful cases on the first day of implementation. On July 28, a real-time alert notified law enforcement about a vehicle stolen during a violent robbery and carjacking in Lemon Grove. A San Diego Sheriff’s Department deputy intercepted the vehicle within minutes and apprehended two suspects.
Later that evening, another real-time alert signaled the presence of a vehicle stolen during a commercial burglary in Winterhaven, CA in Imperial County on July 26. An El Cajon Police officer quickly located the occupied vehicle at a gas station parking lot and promptly arrested the suspect.
These early successes highlight the remarkable impact of Flock Safety’s ALPR cameras on the El Cajon Police Department’s crime-fighting capabilities. With enhanced public safety and a higher likelihood of recovering stolen property, the ALPR implementation promises to be a game-changer in the ongoing battle against crime in El Cajon.
The public can access information on the Flock Safety ALPR camera system at https://transparency.flocksafety.com/-el-cajon-pd-ca.
