UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. , Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With funding from the Department of Homeland Security, three law enforcement agencies in Northern Idaho are working together to improve public safety and security in the region. Post Falls Police Department, Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County Sheriff's Office deployed an automated license plate recognition (ALPR) network from Federal Signal PIPS. Fixed ALPR cameras monitor key roadways through the region in concert with mobile ALPR camera systems on police patrol vehicles that enable tactical enforcement and area surveillance.
"The system has collected over 7 million reads since deployment and captures around 40,000 plates per day," stated Captain Scot Haug of Post Falls Police Department. "The technology has been a tremendous benefit for the region. We are better able to identify stolen vehicles -- at least half of which are linked to some other crime, and often involve recoveries of narcotics, weapons, burglary tools and other paraphernalia used in criminal activity. While this is an important aspect, the greatest benefit perhaps is the collection of data for use in our investigations."
Protecting the public -- every day
A few weeks ago, the Federal Signal PIPS Back Office System Software (BOSS) provided valuable intelligence that aided in a homicide investigation. Captain Haug noted, "The suspect in this investigation had claimed to be at home during the time of the crime, but using the data in BOSS we were able to place him on a nearby roadway near the time of the murder. Aided by this information, the suspect offered a confession."
In another example, the system identified a suspect in a string of 'snatch and grab' robberies at a local retail establishment. Captain Haug continued, "Querying our ALPR network, we were able to look for vehicles in the area at the times of these robberies and identify one common vehicle that appeared around the times of all of these incidents and also matched the vehicle description. We were then able to make a positive identification on the suspect, link him to a string of similar robberies in another state, and make an arrest."
"The ALPR system from Federal Signal PIPS has enabled our agencies to solve a number of crimes that otherwise may not have been solved. It has definitely improved the safety of our community, and it has been a wise investment," concluded Captain Haug.
"A key benefit of nearby communities deploying license plate recognition technologies in tandem is the creation of multi-jurisdictional law enforcement databases. The combination of these databases with networks of fixed and mobile ALPR systems enables public safety agencies across the U.S. to enhance the level of protection they provide communities and citizens," said Michael K. Wons, vice president and general manager of Federal Signal Corporation's Public Safety Systems Division. "We applaud the leadership of Idaho's Post Falls , Coeur d'Alene and the Kootenai County agencies in creating a safer and more secure community."
About PIPS
PIPS Technology, a Federal Signal Company, is a pioneer and the international market leader in the design and manufacture of automated license plate recognition technology and optical character recognition software. With more than 15,000 cameras installed worldwide, PIPS continues to set the standard for both mobile and fixed system deployments across a wide range of applications. The Federal Signal PIPS system is part of the Federal Signal Public Safety Systems industry platform. For more information on PIPS, visit: http://pipstechnology.com.
About Federal Signal
Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) enhances the safety, security and well-being of communities and workplaces around the world. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and institutional customers. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill. , with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the Company operates three groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions and Fire Rescue. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: http://www.federalsignal.com.
SOURCE Federal Signal Corporation Safety and Security Systems Group
