Sheriff’s Office installs 33 license plate reading cameras
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has installed 33 Flock Safety automated license plate readers (ALPR) and they have been strategically placed in locations throughout Donalsonville, Iron City and Seminole County.
These cameras provide Sheriff’s Office deputies with real time data to capture the make, model, color and license plate from the rear of vehicles traveling throughout our county. They capture actionable evidence and send real time alerts if a wanted or stolen vehicle passes by these cameras, and alerts are sent to every Deputy within seconds – and they are always working . . .
Week before last Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to recover a stolen rental van from Gwinnett County in Donalsonville, after being alerted by one of the Flock ALPRs. The offender, Rodney Cohen was arrested for Theft by Receiving Stolen Property and booked into the Seminole County Jail.
Then last week the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office also arrested four people for stolen guns and drugs thanks to the Flock Safety cameras. At around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, deputies with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office were alerted by Flock Safety that a silver Ford Mustang was traveling north on Highway 91 with a suspended registration and no valid insurance, according to the sheriff’s office. After confirming the information through the Georgia Crime Information Center, a traffic stop was conducted. During the stop, a probable cause search was conducted due to the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. During the search, deputies found two stolen guns, cocaine, and marijuana inside the vehicle.
Dykese Wilcox, Brittany Pitts, Kwandarius Weston, and Sunni Williams were arrested and booked into the Seminole County Jail for violations of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act and theft by receiving stolen property, along with other charges on a $30,000 bond, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“The Flock Safety cameras are just one more tool to assist law enforcement in Seminole County to help solve and prevent crime,” commented Seminole County Sheriff Heath Elliott. “This partnership with Flock Safety will allow SCSO to continue to deliver great law enforcement service for our residents, businesses and visitors. As technology and crime trends change, these ALPR cameras allow SCSO to remain at the leading edge to continue to provide safety and security for Seminole County.”
This technology was purchased with grant funding. In June of 2023 Seminole County was awarded $1,549,248.80 by the State for investment in equipment and technology for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. In accordance with grant requirements, awarded funds are to be utilized to supplement law enforcement staffing, support violent crime reduction or community violence intervention programming, and invest in technology and equipment to address and respond to violence in the community.
