Newton installs license plate cameras to track wanted vehicles and missing persons
Police point to recent arrests of three murder suspects as proof of the system's value
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Sign up freeNEWTON, Kan. — The Newton Police Department is installing 11 automated license plate reader cameras at highway off-ramps and other key city entry points to bolster its ability to catch violent criminals and locate missing people.
Police point to the recent arrests of three murder suspects as evidence the system works. In early June, a Flock camera spotted a vehicle connected to the fatal shooting of 64-year-old James Dodds in Kansas City, Kansas.
The alert gave Harvey County Sheriff Chad Gay and Newton authorities time to block exits and deploy spike strips on Interstate 135 near the 36th Street exit. That operation led to the arrests of suspects Aaron Johnson, Mark Elliott Nash Jr. and Marquel McGee.
Police Chief Craig Dunlavy said the Flock Safety cameras capture rear license plates and vehicle characteristics to cross-reference with law enforcement databases. Four of the cameras are already functional but await department training before use.
Dunlavy emphasized that the cameras do not use facial recognition, record video or audio, or issue traffic tickets. Instead, they focus on identifying wanted vehicles entering the city.
To address privacy concerns, Dunlavy said the department audits searches, requires a case number or probable cause for access, and deletes data after 30 days. The city is currently waiting on Kansas Department of Transportation permits to install the remaining seven cameras.
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