b"Independence Police Department BeatTECHNOLOGY UPGRADESWhen I was first chosen as Chief of Police, one of my goals was HELP CRACK DOWN ON CRIME to make the city safer with Flock cameras, Chief Ferayorni said. After utilizing Flock cameras during the trial period and seeing them in action, it proved how valuable an investigative tool they are. We are looking forward to the full implementation of these cameras.According to Chief Ferayorni, from March 2023 to March 2024, there were 16 vehicles stolen in the city, nine vehicles were recovered within the city from other agencies, and numerous car break-ins and attempted break-ins occurred resulting in vandalism and theft of personal items. Additionally, since January 2023, there have been approximately 20 missing persons reports. Chief Ferayorni said Flock will help decrease these numbers, will allow A woman reported to have dementia was located safely, twoofficers to collaborate more easily with other agencies, and can stolen vehicles were returned to their owners, two car thieveshelp create a database to look for drug dealers, thieves and others were arrested, one shoplifter was apprehended, and a subject inwho utilize vehicles while committing crimes.a federal case being investigated by the Northern Kentucky DrugFlock technology only captures objective evidence associated Strike Force was locatedall due to Flock Safety, a state-of-the- with the vehicle and does not pull up any information about the art public operating system that helps eliminate crime and keepcurrent driver of a vehicle, such as gender, race or ethnicity. The communities safe. system also requires a documented search reason, creating a per-Those incidents occurred in the three-month period after themanent audit trail for every user. Information is deleted after 30 installation of two Flock cameras that were deployed in the citydays and no data is shared or sold to third parties. All images and in December on a trial run basis. The findings, coupled with othermetadata are encrypted for maximum security compliance.data presented to City Council, led Council to approve implementingChief Ferayorni expects to have the entire system up and running the system long term. by late summer or early fall.The system utilizes a combination of license plate recognition andIPD DATABASE HELPS RESIDENTS WITH available dispatch data to collect evidence to help solve, deter,INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDSand reduce crime, safeguarding the public. Independence Police Chief Brian Ferayorni said he plans to install at least 10 cameras to create a virtual gate around the city, covering all major thor-oughfares in and out of Independence. Chief Ferayorni would also like to partner with local apartment complexes, subdivision homeowners associations and businesses to provide Flock technology to their areas.Residents with family members who have intellectual disabilities and special needs are encouraged to register their loved ones in a new database launched this spring by Independence Police. The database is designed to help residents with Alzheimers, dementia, autism, Down syndrome or other conditions that may prevent them from easily communicating with law enforcement in emergency situations. The database will be another tool for officers when trying to locate these individuals and reunite them with their families if they are lost or missing. Visit the citys website and select the Special Needs Information Sheet link under the City Highlights section to fill out the database form. Email the completed form, along with a photo of your loved one to sergeants@cityofindependence.org or call (859) Flock Safety's automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system356-2697 for more information.captures and processes license plate data to assist in crime prevention and law enforcement efforts. All information obtained is confidential and will only be utilized for emergency situations such as in the case of missing/endangered 10 persons or similar situations."