san diego city police
SAN DIEGO — Following final City Council approval in November 2023, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) has begun installing and using smart streetlight cameras and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology that is already helping solve crimes. .
“The implementation of our smart street lights and ALPR technology has already made our city safer,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. There are examples where the ability to help locate and arrest people has been demonstrated more efficiently and reliably.” “With the level of transparency and accountability for the use of technology we are deploying, we are strengthening the safety of San Diegans while protecting their privacy rights.”
5 year agreement with SDPD Ubiquia Co., Ltd.is paired with Flock Safety's ALPR Technologyincludes installation and maintenance of the first 500 locations across the city. More than 100 of the 500 cameras have been installed since late December, with new installations occurring almost every day.
“The San Diego Police Department already has a crime-solving rate that exceeds the national average. Instead of casting a wide net based on sometimes vague descriptions, smart streetlight cameras and ALPR systems allow officers to target criminals with lasers. We can now focus on this investment, which is accurate, intelligence-driven, best-in-class policing that will deliver results,'' said Police Chief David Nisreit.
Cameras and ALPR can only work in conjunction with LED street lights. If LED street lights are already installed, this technology can be easily connected to the street lights without any changes. If LEDs are not installed in a designated location, SDPD will work with the City Department of Transportation to replace them with LED lighting. He expects the installation of all 500 cameras to be completed by June, weather and other infrastructure issues permitting.
Privacy protection measures
Once the cameras are installed, SDPD's Special Projects Legislative Affairs Unit (SPLA) will review each camera's perspective individually to digitally mask private property, which will be recorded by the cameras before they are fully operational. there is no. The department is working to provide a variety of training opportunities to police officers and investigators to ensure they understand their responsibilities when accessing the system.
The system has the following safety measures in place:
- Police officers and investigators must undergo the necessary training before being granted access.
- When you search the system, case or event numbers are listed. The SPLA unit constantly audits its systems to ensure compliance.
- Videos captured by streetlight cameras are deleted after 13 days, and ALPR data is deleted after 30 days. Streetlight camera video and his ALPR data will only be maintained for use in investigations.
- The “Hot List” feature, which allows police officers and investigators to enter license plates suspected of or associated with a crime, can only be entered by members of the SPLA unit and will remain on the “Hot List” for only 72 hours. .
In accordance with the Transparency and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Ordinance, SDPD takes steps to better inform the public about new technologies, including publishing usage policies and other related materials on its technology website. Create a searchable map showing the location of streetlights and ALPR cameras. We are also working with Flock Safety to create a “transparency portal” regarding the ALPR data being collected.
Early success story
Since early January, smart streetlights and ALPR information have assisted SDPD officers and investigators in more than 22 homicides, robberies, robberies, assaults, and stolen vehicle investigations. To date, 12 stolen vehicles have been recovered and 11 suspects have been detained as a result of the investigation.
Case highlights:
- SDPD has used smart streetlights and Flock ALPR systems to access critical information to assist in four homicide cases. Due to the ongoing investigation, we are unable to share any further information at this time.
- On January 16, a victim was apparently stopped by police in a vehicle with red and blue lights and robbed at gunpoint in the Nestor neighborhood. The suspect fled the scene and the victim called San Diego police. Southern District detectives used the Flock ALPR system to identify and locate the suspect with limited information. The suspect was arrested on charges of robbery, conspiracy and impersonating a police officer.
- SDPD received information about a stolen vehicle from a rental car company near the San Diego Airport. An SDPD officer entered the license plate into the flocking system and received a notification on the vehicle near UTC Mall. The officer alerted SDPD North District officers, who searched the mall's parking lot and found the stolen vehicle in the parking lot. They discovered the suspect was in possession of the stolen vehicle keys and additional stolen vehicle keys. He was arrested and booked into jail on charges of auto theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and two misdemeanor warrants.
These are just a few examples of several studies underway using smart street lights and ALPR technology. More stories will be shared as the department continues to use the system.
