Orange, like other Southern California municipalities, is planning to enhance its crime-fighting capabilities by adding license plate readers and video cameras to its streets to catch criminals passing through the city.
Police Chief Dan Adams informed the City Council that this move is a significant advancement for Orange, as the city has been lagging in crime-fighting technology.
These cameras will provide the police with information on vehicles entering and leaving Orange, which can then be shared with law enforcement agencies in neighboring cities to track down suspects on the move.
According to a City Council staff report, Orange is a target for organized retail theft and other crimes due to its easy freeway access in all directions, making it essential to deploy these license plate readers and video cameras for greater deterrence and enhanced law enforcement coverage.
Other cities in Southern California, such as Costa Mesa and La Cañada Flintridge, have already implemented similar crime-fighting devices on their streets, with positive results.
While there are concerns about privacy risks associated with license plate readers, the City Council of Orange approved an agreement with a consulting firm to lease 43 license plate readers and 13 video cameras for two years at a cost of just over $410,000.
City officials have been working to secure funding for this technology, which will be provided by Flock Safety, a license plate recognition company based in Atlanta.
The new technology will help law enforcement agencies catch criminals and prevent future crimes, without being used for traffic violations or having facial recognition capabilities.
City Councilmember Jon Dumitru highlighted the importance of investing in crime-fighting methods to maintain a low crime rate in the city.
He shared a personal experience where license plate readers helped in capturing suspects, emphasizing the regional cooperation among cities to combat crime effectively.
Overall, the implementation of license plate readers and video cameras in Orange is seen as a proactive step towards enhancing public safety and reducing criminal activities in the city.
