Brawley to get more license plate readers
BRAWLEY — The Brawley City Council recently authorized the purchase of eight solar-powered automated license plate recognition cameras to be installed within the city’s limits.
The ALPR cameras will supplement existing technology the Brawley Police Department uses as part of its participation in the regional Imperial County ALPR Program.
Unlike its existing ALPR technology, the newly approved cameras will be installed at fixed locations selected by the department, said Chief Robert Sawyer.
The $32,000 expense for the wireless cameras and supporting software is fully reimbursable by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations funds.
“It’s a pretty affordable system for what it could do for us in terms of public safety,” Sawyer said during his July 16 presentation to the council.
In Redlands, the recent deployment of the cameras, manufactured by Flock Safety, accounted for a 34 percent drop in crime in targeted areas, Sawyer told the council.
“We’re hopeful we’ll see something similar to that in our city as well,” Sawyer said.
Installation of the cameras is expected to start within 30 days of the purchase order and be completed within 60 days, officials said.
As part of a wider plan, the Police Department has proposed the eventual deployment of 60 cameras to be installed at all of the city’s entrances, exits and popular public spaces, Sawyer said.
Future plans will include discussions with local homeowner associations and businesses to expand the cameras’ use, officials said.
“Businesses, school sites and neighborhoods have the opportunity to purchase the equipment privately and share the information with law enforcement,” said Cmdr. Brett Houser in an email. “We’re hopeful these private/public partnerships will assist the community in multiplying our investigative resources to address such issues as vehicle theft, arson, illegal dumping, theft and burglary, just to name a few.”
While a number of installation locations have been identified, they are considered investigative techniques that would be detrimental to share with the public, Houser stated.
The locations’ disclosure could possibly lead to individuals attempting to circumvent the location or vandalize the equipment, he said.
Successful deployment of the Flock Safety cameras in areas of Arizona and Nevada also suggest that the technology will withstand the Valley’s high summer temperatures, Sawyer said
As part of the department’s agreement with the company, up to one camera a year will be replaced for free in case of damages. Additional camera replacements would cost about $350 each, he said. The initial purchase comes with two years of software support.
The “turnkey” wireless Flock Safety cameras could also provide an alternative to the drawn out approval process required for potential ALPR camera installation on state Department of Transportation infrastructure within the city, Sawyer said.
To date, the Flock Safety cameras have traditionally been employed by homeowner associations on residential streets, while the regional ALPR program makes use of Vigilant Solutions technology typically deployed at major thoroughfares, Sawyer said.
The cost of installing Vigilant Solutions ALPR cameras at an eight-lane intersection would cost about $120,000, a council agenda report stated.
Currently, Brawley is among several local law enforcement agencies participating in the regional ALPR program. Partner agencies include the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Imperial, Westmorland and El Centro police departments.
The newly authorized cameras are an expansion of the current program and will be governed by existing policy, which is readily available on the department’s website.
Since the regional program’s deployment about two years ago, it is credited with the recovery of 35 stolen vehicles and seven vehicles with stolen license plates, the July 16 council agenda report stated.
Additionally, the regional program has led to 40 criminal arrests, including two murder suspects wanted by Kern County authorities and seven local shooting suspects, the council agenda report stated.
Items seized with the assistance of the program also include more than 20 pounds of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of methamphetamine, 500 fentanyl pills and eight firearms, including two AR-15s, a Tec 9 and an AK-47 rifle.
“We are excited about the possibility of expanding our ALPR program, as it has proven to strengthen public safety,” Houser stated. “The ALPR equipment can be offered at low cost and can quickly and easily gather evidence to assist the Brawley Police Department.”