CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In November 2023, the Clarksville Police Department caught three suspects that were accused of “violently and brutally” attacking a man in Murfreesboro. Part of the reason they were caught was that their vehicle was picked up by Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology that’s in use in both Murfreesboro and Clarksville.

According to previous reports, crime data analysts with Murfreesboro Police identified the suspects’ vehicle after they left the scene of the crime, and it was later flagged in Clarksville. That’s when CPD was notified, and the three suspects were captured. That was all great news. But it left some residents of Montgomery County with a question: When did we get Automatic License Plate Readers?

History of cameras in Montgomery County

Sgt. Bishop Delaney with the Montgomery County’s Sheriff’s Office told Clarksville Now the ALPR technology was installed in 2021, and has since been used to solve dozens of crimes.

It began when MCSO requested six ALPR units in their 2022 fiscal budget. At the time, the annual fee cost the department $2,500 per unit. However, MCSO now has eight stationary units and three mobile units, which has increased the annual cost of the technology. This year, MCSO paid $28,500 to renew the technology for 2024.

Since its implementation, the ALPR cameras have helped solve more than 60 cases in Montgomery County.

The eight stationary units are located on Highway 12, Highway 48, Highway 41A South, Highway 79, Zinc Plant Road and Dotsonville Road. The two mobile cameras are moved periodically.

How ALPR cameras are used

The ALPR system that MCSO uses comes from Flock Safety, whose mission statement is based around providing evidence to law enforcement agencies to solve and eliminate crime.

There are limits to what information is recorded by the cameras and how it is used.

Delaney said that even though Flock Safety has access to every camera set up in Montgomery County, the Sheriff’s Office maintains administrative control over their own network. The Flock system does not record live video, rather, it takes snapshots that are triggered by passing vehicles.

“Those photos are only retained for 30 days before they are permanently purged,” Delaney said. “The snapshots taken are not accessible to the public.

“Another limitation is that we will only have access to data captured by Flock cameras, therefore, agencies are limited by camera positions. Our agency maintains two mobile platforms and they must be moved periodically to capture data in suspected crime areas.”

The Flock Safety technology is computer AI software and can run at all hours and collect data when other resources might not be readily available, according to Delaney.

The Clarksville Police Department expects to implement the same type of ALPR technology, but they are unsure when they will acquire the equipment.

Sheriff Fuson: Cameras have made community safer

Sheriff John Fuson told Clarksville Now the cameras have paid off.

“I have always strived to follow and pursue technological advances that not only proactively assist our agency, but also aid in capturing criminal suspects in both active and ongoing criminal investigations,” Fuson said.

“The Flock ALPR system has quickly resolved incidents that would otherwise still be active and ongoing. … The benefits of quickly resolving a criminal incident have undoubtedly prevented further criminal activity of the suspect(s) and have often resulted in the successful recovery of illicit drugs, stolen guns and thousands of dollars in stolen property.”

Fuson added that he has no doubt that the technology has resulted in a much safer community.