The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) on Nov. 9 marked the one-year anniversary of its implementation of a new license-plate-reader (LPR) technology, which they deemed an “invaluable asset in ensuring the safety and security of the Fairfax County community.”
County police have been using LPR technology from Flock Safety and Axon to elevate the department’s ability to solve crimes and find missing people, department officials said.
Police during the past year have used both fixed and mobile LPRs in 335 cases during the past year, resulting in the location of 18 missing people, 204 arrests, 612 charges filed (including 404 felonies and 208 misdemeanors), recovery of 125 stolen vehicles and 22 stolen firearms, 53 cases involving recovered narcotics.
Most recently, county police used LPR technology to identify an offender in an indecent-liberties case involving juvenile victims.
“The FCPD will continue to be at the forefront of data-informed policing strategies, including the responsible use of technology to meet the needs and expectations of our community,” said Police Chief Kevin Davis. “LPR technology has proven to be a game-changer for our community. It has enhanced our ability to protect and serve Fairfax County and the pronounced results we’ve seen this year are a testament to the hard work of our officers and our community’s steadfast support.”
The police department has made multiple changes to its LPR program over the past year, including obtaining a 92-percent reduction in data-retention length by keeping stored data for only 30 days across all LPR systems. FCPD does not get any LPR alerts regarding immigration-enforcement warrants, driver’s licenses, registration or inspection violations.
