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Take a trip to Jackson and your license plate can be filmed. It’s part of the technology the Jackson Police Department uses to catch criminals, and officials say it works.
“Technology was used yesterday where we recovered two different fugitives wanted on substantial charges,” said Jackson Police Deputy Commissioner Sergio Garcia.
One was arrested for fraud and another for sexual misconduct, and it was all through that eye in the sky. It’s technology that the Jackson Police Department has placed at key points around the city’s perimeter. They focus on number plates as cars enter and leave city limits.
That’s what the department says is necessary.
Officials say the cameras were installed a few months ago and are helping them catch criminals faster than ever. “Ultimately, the turnaround time for some of the real criminals has helped us develop suspects, leads and possible cases that we wouldn’t have.
“One big thing that we see is organized crime, like retail fraud rings operating outside of our community. When we get information about the means to which they may be linked. , it tells us that they’re here in our community, so we can start getting Garcia said.
The department says there’s no need to worry about privacy violations, as these cameras only capture license plates as cars pass by.
“It’s just a part of the vehicle. The number plate and the back of it let us see a number plate and the color of a vehicle, it will be no different from an officer standing on the street watching vehicles pass by.
These cameras cost about $2,500 per year to run each year and they have to be renewed. At next week’s city council meeting, communities will be asked to voice their opinions on how the nearly $50,000 in funding could be used for law enforcement. This will include the renewal of these cameras.
