Title
Automated License Plate Reader Cameras Grant Award Briefing
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing regarding a grant award from the Department of Commerce for the Olympia Police Department to Implement Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Cameras.
Report
Issue:
Whether receive Receive a briefing regarding a grant award from the Department of Commerce for the Olympia Police Department to Implement ALPR Cameras.
Staff Contact:
Rich Allen, Chief, Olympia Police Department, 360.753.8147
Presenter(s):
Rich Allen, Chief, Olympia Police Department
Kristen MacLeod, Community Affairs Manager, Flock Safety
Background and Analysis:
Although lower than last year, the number of auto thefts that have occurred in our city and region during 2023 is still higher than our five-year average. What is equally troubling is the way criminals are using these stolen cars to commit other crimes such as robbery, organized retail theft, and burglary.
The Olympia Police Department applied for and has been awarded a grant from the Department of Commerce to fund the utilization of technology to address this crime trend. OPD has chosen Flock Safety as the vendor to place Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) at strategic locations.
ALPR technology has been used by police agencies nationwide to locate stolen vehicles and to solve other crimes where an automobile has been used. Vehicle information captured by the system is kept in a database for thirty days and can be searched by vehicle characteristics (license plate number, make, model, paint color etc.). This searchable database makes it an ideal tool in solving crimes.
For Olympia, the data captured by the cameras will belong to OPD and will be stored on a secure server. It will only be accessible by agencies who have received expressed permission from OPD. A public-facing transparency page will be built, allowing the public to learn info...
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