A Flock Safety Falcon automatic license plate recognition camera (flocksafety.com)
LOCKNEY – With six months of service under their belts, Lockney’s Police Department is undergoing some changes as well as bringing in a new tool to help fight crime in the city.
On Wednesday the department announced Alberto Soto-Gonzalez had been promoted to Sergeant from Patrol Officer. That announcement comes on the heels of the swearing in of Chad Eberle as a reserve officer last month.
Those personnel changes are matched with the Lockney City Council decision last month to approve the lease of two license plate cameras for the city, to be placed along US 70 within city limits.
The cameras, which will not be used track speed, are solar-powered Flock Safety brand ‘Falcon’ Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) units that be placed facing the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway.
The cameras read the license plates of the vehicles driving through and will alert officers if there is something that needs to be addressed – everything from expired tags to the vehicle being stolen or having been used in a crime.
Each camera will cost $2,500 per year to operate, and the price will be added to software costs the department already pays to Axon, the company that provides support for their body and dashboard cameras. The current contract was stated to be $13,000 a year.
The city council approved the deal on a one-year trial basis with the understanding they would be able to keep the cameras if they decide not to renew. “I hope they work great & we buy two more in a year,” Councilman Donnie McLaughlin told Chief Casey Fitzwater during the March meeting.
The cameras will likely be erected in May.
The police department is also continuing their search for reserve officers. Anyone interested can fill out an application at LockneyPD.com/careers
