Prosper Police to install cameras equipped to scan license plates

Prosper - As a part of a forward-looking move to enhance security and facilitate law enforcement efforts, it has been confirmed that Prosper Police will be expanding their surveillance capabilities by installing forty-eight Flock cameras at key locations around town.

These cutting-edge devices will chiefly serve to identify stolen vehicles and those implicated in illegal activities, or associated with missing persons, thus boosting the fight against crime.

These eco-friendly, solar-powered cameras are capable of scanning and decoding license plates, subsequently cross-referencing the gathered data with national criminal databases. When the system flags a stolen vehicle or an individual being sought by law enforcement, a real-time alert is transmitted to the police, prompting an immediate response.

Prosper's Mayor, David Bristol, asserted the town's enduring dedication to ensuring the safety and security of its residents.

"The Town of Prosper is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community using the finest technology available. These cameras will further equip Prosper Police in keeping our Town safe and bring guilty parties to justice," said Prosper Mayor David Bristol.

The cameras are configured to notify the authorities upon detecting a vehicle linked to cases of missing persons, like those subject to AMBER or Silver Alerts. However, the police made clear that the cameras will not be used for monitoring parking or minor traffic offenses. They also stressed that all collected data remains strictly confidential, not to be sold or shared, with access restricted to law enforcement alone.

While the exact positions and installation schedule of the cameras are yet to be disclosed, they will be strategically placed at major intersections and specially selected roadways throughout the town. A similar initiative was recently announced by Plano Police to enhance citywide safety.

Chief Doug Kowalski of the Prosper Police Department, endorsing this surveillance initiative, recognized the system's proven effectiveness.

"This camera system has proven to be an invaluable tool used by police departments in neighboring communities in their policing efforts," said Chief Doug Kowalski of the Prosper Police Department.

On a larger scale, Prosper joins a roster of North Texas cities, such as Dallas, Fort Worth, and Grand Prairie, that have already incorporated Flock cameras into their law enforcement frameworks.

Last November, Grand Prairie Police used Flock cameras to track down a vehicle involved in a chase that sadly led to the death of a police officer. The technology's deployment allowed investigators to discover that over 200 vehicles had been using the same fraudulent paper license tag, significantly aiding their efforts to isolate the vehicle in question.

Content provided by Dallas Metro News, Prosper Police Department, NBC-DFW