The Denver Police Department has moved to bolster transparency by making data from its Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system available to the public, which includes aggregate information on vehicles captured within the city. This dashboard is now accessible through the Denver Police Department's website, under the "Performance and Transparency" tab. The dashboard showcases data such as the number of vehicles detected in the past month, with over 2 million instances, the identification of around 86,800 vehicles from the hotlist, and details of about 1,350 searches conducted by law enforcement investigators, according to the City and County of Denver.
According to the released statistics, Denver has seen a sharp decrease in auto thefts following the deployment of the Flock Safety ALPR technology, with Mayor Mike Johnston stating, "Denver’s commitment to transparency means giving our residents the power to see exactly how we operate, progress in our efforts and to hold us accountable," suggesting that this tool is a step towards increased accountability in legal enforcement practices, as per the City and County of Denver. Since May, the police have arrested at least 142 suspects and recovered 99 stolen vehicles, amounting to a significant 33% plunge in motor vehicle theft compared to the previous year's figures in the same timeframe, and in addition, a nearly 50% cut in reported vehicle thefts year-to-date versus the prior year.
The department has shared several success stories linked to the use of the Flock system, these include the apprehension of suspects involved in various criminal activities, from possession of illegal substances to recovering firearms. For instance, on June 14, officers received a Flock alert about a vehicle stolen from North Carolina and subsequently detained two individuals found with a firearm and suspected fentanyl, and on another occasion, Flock aided in the capture of a suspect who, after being on the run in a stolen vehicle, was eventually arrested for a felony warrant for dangerous drugs.
Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas emphasized the ongoing effort to curb auto thefts, suggesting an unrelenting approach to law enforcement's battle against vehicular crime. Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant, secure their vehicles, and sign up for DenverTrack, a community effort to thwart car thefts, ensuring a cohesive effort between public participation and police initiatives designed to crack down on vehicle-related crime.
