The Culpeper Police Department recently began to utilize one of the many technologies gaining prominence in the law enforcement field, the Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR). Built by Flock Safety, a public safety technology company, the ALPR cameras capture images of license plates and vehicle characteristics. Those images are then compared against the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), and a second separate list compiled by law enforcement agencies of license plates associated with criminal activity or missing persons. Any matches prompt real-time alerts to law enforcement. ALPR data is automatically purged after 30 days in accordance with Virginia’s retention schedule. The ALPR program is currently funded through a combination of Federal and State grants.

After careful consideration of the needs of our community and our agency, as well as the balance of personal privacy versus the apprehension of felons and locating missing children and adults, the Culpeper Police Department chose to partner with Flock Safety. The department has already implemented a policy on the use of this new technology and audits the system regularly. The ALPR images do not include people or faces. Each search of the image database requires a criminal investigative justification, and the data is never sold or shared with third parties. The cameras are used to solve property and violent crime, not to enforce minor traffic or parking violations.

The first ALPR was installed at Rockwater Park due to the park’s popularity with families and their children. In the two months since, the ALPR has provided critical assistance in the following incidents:

October 6th – At approximately 12:14PM officers were notified by Flock ALPR that a suspected stolen vehicle was in the area of Orange Rd. The vehicle was located and Dispatch confirmed that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Prince William County Police Department. Culpeper PD officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver, Brian C. Nobiling of Fairfax Station, was taken into custody without incident and served on the outstanding felony warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. The vehicle was returned to its owner.

October 16th – At approximately 10:58AM officers were notified by Flock ALPR that a vehicle associated with a wanted person was in the area of S Main St. The subject, a registered sex offender, had a warrant through a neighboring jurisdiction for credit card fraud. That agency also wanted to interview the subject in connection to a rape and abduction investigation. Within 20 minutes of Culpeper PD officers receiving the Flock ALPR alert, the suspect was located, taken into custody, and turned over to the investigating agency.

November 1st – The Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office advised Culpeper PD that they were investigating a stolen vehicle. Culpeper PD entered the stolen vehicle into the Flock ALPR hot list. Shortly after being added to the list, at around 11:02PM the Flock ALPR alerted officers that the stolen vehicle was in the area of Brandy Rd. After confirming that they were following the correct vehicle, officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and driver was taken into custody. The suspect was turned over Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office for service on their warrants and the vehicle was returned to its owner.

November 2nd – Shortly after the prior incident, an alert was received from Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office at around 2AM requesting law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a vehicle stolen from Rappahannock County. Culpeper PD officers determined through the assistance of Flock ALPR that the stolen vehicle had entered the Town of Culpeper just 15 minutes prior. Officers began to canvas the Town and quickly located the stolen vehicle in the area of S West St. The vehicle took evasive maneuvers but, with assistance from Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office, it was ultimately located fleeing north on Main St. The vehicle then fled down King St. While the vehicle was still in motion, the three occupants fled on foot leaving the vehicle to roll down a hill into several large community mailboxes. One of the occupants was apprehended and they, along with the stolen vehicle, were turned over to Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office.

November 14th – At approximately 11:22AM officers were notified by Flock ALPR of a stolen vehicle in the area of Brandy Rd. The suspect vehicle was located at Dominion Square Shopping Center and officers confirmed that the vehicle was reported stolen. After conducting an investigation, the vehicle’s two occupants were arrested. Chasity Sheetz and Mary Ann Sheetz, both of Culpeper, were charged with felony Unauthorized Use and felony Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. The vehicle was returned to its owner.

November 14th – At approximately 4:32PM officers were notified by Flock ALPR of a stolen vehicle in the area of Brandy Rd. The suspect vehicle was located and Dispatch confirmed that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Page County. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to stop. Culpeper PD officers pursued the vehicle into Culpeper County and the pursuit was taken over by Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The pursuit ended in Rappahannock County where the suspect was safely taken into custody by deputies and the stolen vehicle recovered. The Culpeper Police Department has charged Donald Fox III of New Market with felony Eluding and three counts of misdemeanor Reckless Driving.

November 17th – At approximately 7:48AM officers were notified by Flock ALPR of a stolen vehicle in the area of Sperryville Pike. The suspected vehicle was located and Dispatch confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen by the Washington Metro Airport Police Department. A traffic stop was conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver, John Wolfe of Culpeper, was taken into custody without incident and served on felony warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. The vehicle was returned to its owner.

In addition, the Flock ALPR has provided objective evidence in other criminal investigations, such as felony Grand Larcenies and Hit and Run drivers.

“Throughout my 27 years of law enforcement experience I have not seen a piece of technology that locates criminals in the manner and speed in which these ALPR’s operate. In addition, the ability to find and locate a loved one who has gone missing makes this technology invaluable. The Culpeper Police Department is committed to maintain a level of transparency and strives to maintain a level community engagement with everything we do,” said Chief Chris Settle.

The Culpeper Police Department understands that certain new technology can lead to questions and concerns within the community about how that technology will be used by law enforcement, and what impact it might have on our community. We are committed to maintaining an open and transparent dialog with our residents. Towards that goal, the community is invited to a public hearing on November 29th at 6:30PM in the Culpeper Police Department Community Room. This is an opportunity for the public to see firsthand what Flock ALPR does and does not do, to review the department policy directing use of the Flock ALPR, and to ask any questions about the program.

The agency has created a transparency portal webpage for any citizen interested in monitoring the level of activity of our ALPR’s.  The website can be located at https://transparency.flocksafety.com/culpeper-va-pd-

The Flock Safety system also helps law enforcement solve crime by providing the objective evidence needed for investigations. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 7 in 10 crimes are committed with a vehicle. Flock Safety cameras are in use in thousands of cities across the country, and the company works with over 2,000 police departments. The Flock Safety system also allows the sharing of data among law enforcement agencies. Currently, the Culpeper Police Department has access to 2,744 ALPR’s. Communities using Flock Safety ALPR have reported crime reductions of up to 70%.

Attached: A photo of a Flock ALPR and sample alerts

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Contact: Master Police Officer Julia Cole

Email: JCole@culpeperva.gov

Phone: 540-829-5525

November 17, 2023

JC-2023-31