Flock Safety alert aid in arrest of auto theft suspect, fugitive
By SDCN Editor
El Cajon, CA–El Cajon police say a Flock Safety Alert was instrumental in nabbing an auto theft suspect and fugitive Wednesday afternoon in the city.
Officers received the alert at about 12:08 p.m. for a vehicle that was reported stolen in San Diego on August 6. Officers located the vehicle and the suspected driver in the 1200 Block of Avocado.
The suspect, 33-year-old Ricardo Johnson, was arrested for possessing a stolen vehicle and for having a felony warrant.
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 the 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.
