Less than a year after adopting innovative camera technology to deter and solve crimes, the CU Boulder Police Department is sharing certain information captured by the devices.
Anyone can view the information, which includes the number of vehicles detected and “hotlist hits” on vehicles, which are notifications sent to officers if the system detects a stolen vehicle/plate, a vehicle associated with an amber alert for a missing child or a vehicle used in the commission of a crime, for example.
The new transparency portal also shares information on the number of searches, or police responses, meaning investigators followed up on a hit. The information along with the department’s crime data dashboards.Ěý
“We are excited to be able to share this information with the community,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police Doreen Jokerst. “From the moment we put the cameras up, we were interested in how this technology could help strengthen our proactive investigations. Now we can show the public some of the information that’s helping us solve crimes.”
CU Boulder began using Flock Safety cameras last summer. The cameras capture still pictures of vehicles’ license plates as they enter campus but not images of drivers. Flock Safety does not use facial recognition or detect gender or race. Nor does the technology capture images of pedestrians or vehicles without license plates, such as bikes and scooters.Ěý
“The Flock Safety cameras have been a valuable tool for crime prevention and investigation for CUPD,” said Commander Eric Edford. “They have provided valuable tips that have allowed our officers to solve crimes where other information wasn’t available,” he added.
The transparency portal also includes information on acceptable use policy and prohibited uses, such as immigration enforcement, traffic enforcement, harassment or intimidation and usage based solely on protected class such as race, sex or religion. Data is retained for just 30 days to maintain the privacy of law-abiding citizens and is never shared or sold to third parties.
Individuals who suspect or see crimes in progress should report them by calling 911. CUPD is part of CU Boulder’s Division of Public Safety.
