New Mexico village using technology to solve crimes
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Crime is a growing concern for many. Now, one community is getting more eyes on the streets thanks to technology."We are a small department, but we’re trying to stay ahead of the curve as far as technology," said Sgt. Joe Galindo, Milan Police Department public information officer.Galindo said they've installed two automated license plate reading cameras in the village in partnership with a technology startup called Flock Safety."It has its own power source — you can see it has a solar panel. That's what's going to be operating and giving it power," Galindo said. "You have that camera that's going to be there that has that constant license plate reader, as a vehicle is passing by; it's going to scan those license plates."The cameras then send alerts to police when there's a stolen car or a suspect's vehicle listed in the state or national crime database so they can find them."We have an exit off of I40 so we have a lot of truck drivers, travelers coming through here. You gotta remember it runs through California to North Carolina... Within the last week, we've had five hits on stolen vehicles in the area."There's an elementary school, just down the street from one of those cameras. Police said they hope it helps with Amber Alerts or catching sex offenders.But are the cameras an invasion of privacy? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) New Mexico thinks so. "License plate readers like those manufactured by Flock Safety impact the privacy of New Mexico residents and all people driving through our communities," an ACLU New Mexico spokesperson said in statement. "Any time law enforcement agencies are considering implementing these devices, they must seek advanced public input and give community members an opportunity to decide if they want them in their neighborhoods. After all, this technology does not merely collect data on license plates."It allows law enforcement to search the system for specific makes and colors of cars, can be used to target neighborhoods where people of color predominately live, and can lead to indiscriminate tracking of residents in the absence of legislative limits on their use."But many in the community we spoke to hardly knew the cameras were there or what they were for."I never noticed the one that's here," said Elmer Apodaca, Milan resident."I thought maybe it's just for the school zone," said Lloyd Lopez, another resident.Once we explained what they did, they said they're glad to have them around. "In case something happens at the school, they got that on the corner to get the license plate like an amber alert you know," said Lopez.Galindo said they got the first camera under the last police chief and now they're looking at putting in a third. According to Flock Safety, the cameras have been shown to reduce crime by up to 70%.
Crime is a growing concern for many. Now, one community is getting more eyes on the streets thanks to technology.
"We are a small department, but we’re trying to stay ahead of the curve as far as technology," said Sgt. Joe Galindo, Milan Police Department public information officer.
Galindo said they've installed two automated license plate reading cameras in the village in partnership with a technology startup called Flock Safety.
"It has its own power source — you can see it has a solar panel. That's what's going to be operating and giving it power," Galindo said. "You have that camera that's going to be there that has that constant license plate reader, as a vehicle is passing by; it's going to scan those license plates."
The cameras then send alerts to police when there's a stolen car or a suspect's vehicle listed in the state or national crime database so they can find them.
"We have an exit off of I40 so we have a lot of truck drivers, travelers coming through here. You gotta remember it runs through California to North Carolina... Within the last week, we've had five hits on stolen vehicles in the area."
There's an elementary school, just down the street from one of those cameras. Police said they hope it helps with Amber Alerts or catching sex offenders.
But are the cameras an invasion of privacy? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) New Mexico thinks so.
"License plate readers like those manufactured by Flock Safety impact the privacy of New Mexico residents and all people driving through our communities," an ACLU New Mexico spokesperson said in statement. "Any time law enforcement agencies are considering implementing these devices, they must seek advanced public input and give community members an opportunity to decide if they want them in their neighborhoods. After all, this technology does not merely collect data on license plates.
"It allows law enforcement to search the system for specific makes and colors of cars, can be used to target neighborhoods where people of color predominately live, and can lead to indiscriminate tracking of residents in the absence of legislative limits on their use."
But many in the community we spoke to hardly knew the cameras were there or what they were for.
"I never noticed the one that's here," said Elmer Apodaca, Milan resident.
"I thought maybe it's just for the school zone," said Lloyd Lopez, another resident.
Once we explained what they did, they said they're glad to have them around.
"In case something happens at the school, they got that on the corner to get the license plate like an amber alert you know," said Lopez.
Galindo said they got the first camera under the last police chief and now they're looking at putting in a third. According to Flock Safety, the cameras have been shown to reduce crime by up to 70%.
Gloss