In a move to boost public safety, Johnson City has initiated the Safe City Project, partnering with local higher education institutions to make its streets more secure. The project is a multifaceted approach that combines new technology and strategic data integration, aiming to transition the city's policing efforts from reactive to proactive.
The core of this initiative is the Real-Time Crime Center, a joint effort between the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) and East Tennessee State University (ETSU). The new center aspires to quickly integrate various data streams to offer intelligence—almost in real-time—to better equip officers on the ground. "The Real-Time Crime Center will strengthen our ability to respond with greater precision," Capt. Mike Adams from the JCPD Criminal Investigations Division told Johnson City's official website. He emphasized the shift towards proactive problem-solving.
Embedded in the project is the integration of Flock Group Inc's technology, including 145 pan-tilt-zoom cameras, 145 license plate recognition devices, and gunshot detection technology. The hardware rollout, already set in motion and expected to take half a year, strategically targets high-crime areas and key city entry points.
According to data shared by the JCPD, the smaller, already operational setup of 11 license plate recognition devices has aided in at least 15 arrests since June, underlining the tech's value. Provided by Flock Group Inc., the system doesn't amass personal data such as race, gender, or faces, with strict guidelines governing data use and storage. "The system also connects the JCPD to a broader network of Flock-enabled cameras across the region, state and nation, increasing the ability to locate suspects, stolen vehicles, or missing persons outside of Johnson City," the JCPD clarified.
Funding for the initiative seems to have been strategically structured, with no additional burden to the taxpayer for the first couple of years. The following eight-year period anticipates an annual outlay of $970,375, a figure the JCPD hopes to offset through grants and partnerships. The Safe City Project is a reflection of JCPD's commitment to improving community safety, further emphasizing that the technology's purpose is not to surveil residents but to assist in crime deterrence and investigations.
