Keeping their eyes on Freeport

The Village of Freeport has a new crime-fighting tool that uses digital surveillance technology to monitor village streets for law-breaking motorists and wanted criminals. It’s called Operation Safe Streets, a comprehensive surveillance network of license-plate-reading technology at all major entry points along the village’s perimeter. It creates a round-the-clock, high-tech security operation guarding the village’s boundaries to assist the police in monitoring traffic patterns for criminal or suspicious activity. It also aids police investigations in other jurisdictions if a suspect drives through the village.

    “This is a game changer for law enforcement,” Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy said at a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 18.  “This will enhance public safety for years to come.”

    Freeport Police Chief Miguel Bermudez said the digital license plate readers are capable of scanning 2,000 plates per minute and cross-referencing each plate number with federal and state criminal databases and DMV records, allowing village police officers to identify stolen vehicles, ID motorists who are being sought by law enforcement or are the subject of outstanding arrest warrants. “It can also be used for vehicles that are associated with Amber or Silver Alerts,” Bermudez said. “It can also be used to find unlicensed motorists or those with suspended licenses.”

    At a demonstration for the press at the Freeport Village Police Department’s newly created Strategic Operation Center, three police officers sat at computer terminals watching three monitors that provide real-time alerts, which are then relayed to police officers in the field. An alarm went off suddenly during the demo. “Stolen vehicle,” the system called out.