The Macomb Police Department has installed seven new smart cameras to enhance its crime-fighting capabilities.
Police Chief Jeff Hamer called the technology a “force multiplier” for his department.
The cameras are part of the Flock Safety network, which captures vehicle license plates and other identifying details. The system helps law enforcement track vehicles of interest— such as stolen cars or those linked to suspects—and sends alerts when these “hot list” vehicles pass by.
Solar-powered and roughly the size of a gaming console, the cameras are strategically placed at undisclosed locations, Hamer said.
Detectives can search up to 30 days of traffic data to aid investigations. The information is also shared with other law enforcement agencies using the Flock Safety network.
Hamer noted several recent cases where the cameras would have simplified investigations, including a violent crime involving a suspect from Chicago.
“I think it’s kind of cool we’ve got them here now,” he said.
The McDonough County Sheriff’s Department also uses the system, and Western Illinois University is considering adding the cameras to its Public Safety Department.
