New Flock keeping an eye on high-crime areas in Albany

ALBANY — The city of Albany is installing about 120 Flock cameras across the city — prioritizing both public safety and right to privacy in addition to its school zone speed cameras and gunshot detection devices.

The conjunction of these technologies, which are Flock Safety devices, gives law enforcement a greater situational awareness of where crime is happening in the city, Police Chief Michael Persley said in a conference Tuesday afternoon. Flock is Atlanta-based but its technologies are used across the country.

The installation of new cameras around the city prompted calls to officials, with curious residents asking what the purpose of the technology would be and expressing concerns over privacy.

“What this is is the city of Albany’s commitment to the safety and security of everyone, and using technology as a force-multiplier,” Persley said.

However, he emphasized the city’s respect for privacy.

“What’s happening on our roadways is public information, and we need to have more eyes out so that we can safely secure this community,” the chief said.

So, what are the new cameras that have popped up around the city and what are they picking up?

They’re pan-tilt and license plate recognition cameras.

The license plate readers and gunshot detection systems are built to ensure objective evidence is captured — the evidence needed to provide leads and solve crimes, Holly Beilin, a Flock Safety spokesperson, said during a Tuesday news conference.

The $400,000 system funded by the City Commission’s discretionary funds joins the gunshot detection system, which was implemented in March.

The gunshot detection systems are placed in three areas throughout Albany: aast Albany, central Albany and in north central Albany.

Depending on the size of the area, there are as many as hundreds of sensors keeping watch, Persley said.

The areas were chosen using historical crime data to find where the most instances of gun violence were reported in Albany.

This is called predictive policing, City Manager Steven Carter said at the conference.

“Predictive policing uses historical data to anticipate potential crime hotspots, allowing law enforcement to address these areas and prevent crimes proactively,” he said.

Only 30% of shots fired calls are reported nationally, Persley said.

“We thought here that it’s higher because people do call, but through our gunshot detection we found that not everyone calls about firearms being discharged in the city,” he said.

The system picks up both audio and vehicular evidence, Beilin said.

These new technologies come at a time when Albany is seeing an increase in violent crime, beginning after the pandemic in 2020 and sharply increasing in 2022, the police chief said.

This isn’t unique to Albany, Persley said, but is something the entire country is seeing.

The community has been clear that they want to feel safe in their homes, in their neighborhoods and on their streets, the city manager said.

“We’ve listened and we’ve invested in solutions that we feel will actually move the needle in our public safety,” he said.

When the city began using speed detection cameras in school zones, it was revealed how frequently stolen vehicles come through the city, Persley said. The police department has at least 34 documented cases where license plate recognition systems led to the recovery of stolen vehicles and the arrest of drivers.

The cameras and detection devices act as a speed bump for crime, Persley said.

“We want to make sure that those who are coming here to do wrong, who are coming to commit crime, to know that you will be caught on camera somewhere,” Persley said.

Any information caught on the devices will be used in prosecution, he said.

“This is the future,” Persley said.

Technology offers innovative solutions to enhance the community’s security and foster a more safe environment, Carter said.

The cameras and detection devices ensure that information gets sent to citizens and first responders, he said, especially during times like Wednesday when Hurricane Idalia’s effects were felt throughout the city, Carter said.

Law enforcement agencies can analyze crime and check out patterns and translate them to allocate resources effectively.

The new technology also brings new job opportunities.

“We are looking for our best and brightest to help operate these systems,” Persley said.

Persley encouraged anyone with questions about the camera installation project to reach out.

“We are out here to protect the privacy of all people who live or come through Albany… but at the end of the day, we are responsible for safety,” he said.