County Flock Cameras Log 52,738 Vehicle Reads in May, Sheriff Reports
- Steve Jurrens
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - High-tech vehicle surveillance has become an integrated part of local law enforcement operations, according to the May 2026 data audit delivered by Sheriff Brad Howell during Tuesday morning’s Board of Commissioners meeting.
Howell provided the board and the public with a detailed monthly breakdown of the county’s Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (LPR) contract, emphasizing transparency in how the specialized tracking technology is utilized by local investigators.
During the month of May, the county’s network of roadside LPR cameras captured an astonishing 52,738 discrete vehicle reads as traffic moved through regional thoroughfares. Out of those tens of thousands of automated scans, the system triggered 19 actionable alert “hits,” which occur when a passing plate matches an active profile within national stolen property databases or hotlists uploaded by outside law enforcement agencies.
In addition to responding to automated real-time alerts, local deputies actively leveraged the system to advance open investigations. Sheriff’s department personnel conducted 46 targeted system queries in May, with each search mathematically cross-referenced against an active, verified case file or call for service.
The Sheriff’s audit revealed that the Flock camera network is primarily being utilized to solve property crimes and traffic offenses. Of the 46 searches conducted, 14 were directly tied to property destruction and vandalism cases, 11 were used to track motor vehicle thefts, six targeted stolen property rings, and five were deployed to identify suspect vehicles fleeing the scene of hit-and-run accidents.
The system was also queried five times for cases involving a fleeing vehicle, twice to track wanted fugitives from justice, once for a counterfeiting case, and once for a major financial felony investigation. The final logged query was used for an internal system validation test.
