RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Truckee Police have launched crime reducing technology that uses AI software to gather evidence and free up time for investigators.
Flock Safety has introduced the Solar-Powered Condor, a live video and license plate recognition solution that enables cities, law enforcement agencies, and businesses to install the device anywhere. Connor Metz, the Public Information Officer with Flock Safety, explains that their license plate readers are able to reduce crime faster, and on a larger scale than a police force alone.
“This technology is really a gamechanger. It’s a motion activated camera that takes still images of passing vehicles and compares those vehicles’ licenses plates to state and national databases to see if the vehicle is associated with a known wanted suspect, if the vehicle is stolen, or if it’s associated with a missing person,” said Metz.
Recently, the Truckee Police Department has installed these readers, and already they’ve noticed a difference.
“We’ve caught many hit-and-runs and even solved attempted murder cases,” said Truckee PD Lieutenant Kyle Vickers. “Flock’s technology is a mile ahead.”
In August, Truckee PD aided in the arrest of a suspect wanted for a homicide in Citrus Heights after officers received an alert from Flock Safety that a vehicle associated with a suspect in that case passed through the area. On the scene, officers discovered a fatally-wounded victim, and after further investigation, had a license plate number of a suspect vehicle. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office advised neighboring agencies to be on the lookout for the vehicle, and 16 hours later, the alleged homicide vehicle passed by one of Truckee’s Flock Safety cameras. Officers coordinated with Sierra County deputies to stop the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop, arresting two suspects. 19-year-old Anthony Murti is charged with murder, and 28-year-old Richard Hernandez is charged with Accessory After the Fact.
“An investigator can go into the flock safety system and they can search a certain area for a blue sedan with a roof rack for example, and then that can generate leads for them,” Metz said.
If the system detects a match, the department is notified within just 20 seconds, freeing up time for officers to spend on bigger investigations, with less manpower.
“Talk to any police department and they’ll tell you they’re having trouble retaining folks on the force. You can now have more police officers following up on good objective evidence and less time on wild goose chases,” said Metz.
Metz says that 90% of stolen vehicle cases are associated with other illegal acts, allowing the devices to cut down on secondary crime using objective, actionable evidence.
“Eye witness testimony can be not that great. Often times people forget license plate numbers very easily, especially in a stressful and hectic environment,” said Metz.
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