Yates gives update on license plate cameras

QUINCY — When Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates asked the City Council for permission to put cameras around the city one year ago, he did it hoping it would assist in catching those suspected to be involved in crimes.

And the Flock license plate readers appear to have done that.

Yates gave a report to the Quincy City Council Monday night that detailed the amount of data the cameras have received.

In the past 30 days, the 20 cameras captured nearly 2.5 million plate reads and returned more than 850 hot list hits, which are generated by national databases to alert officers to a stolen vehicle, wanted person, or missing person.

Yates added that QPD officers and detectives have used the system to conduct more than 1,000 law enforcement searches over the past year and has also assisted with:

• 2 – Hit and run investigations: both resulting in an arrest
• 2 – Fraud Investigations resulting in one arrest and one suspect identified
• 1 – Credit Card theft/CC fraud investigation resulting in an arrest
• 7 – Recovered stolen vehicles
• 2 – Stolen vehicle investigations: both vehicles recovered – one case resulting in an arrest and one case pending arrests
• 1 – A home invasion / aggravated discharge of a firearm investigation
• 1 – A home invasion / criminal sexual assault investigation resulting in the arrest of a suspect in Wisconsin
• 1 – A Silver Alert

The first seven cameras went live in June of 2023. Another twelve cameras were installed between July and December of 2023. The final camera was installed and went live in May of 2024.

Yates reminded aldermen the cameras do not store data, but QPD can access the data as to what the cameras are reading and that information is only stored for 30 days. If that information is not used, it’s then purged permanently from the system.

In other action, aldermen approved:

• The purchase of three 2025 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles from Gem City Ford in the amount of $123,471, after $19,500.00 credit for three trade-ins.
• Paying Federal Signal of University Park, IL, to upfit three 2025 Ford Explorer Police Interceptors with emergency equipment and prison transport safety equipment for a total cost of $43,824.99.
• The purchase one 2024 Kia Carnival minivan from Shottenkirk Kia in the amount of $37,073.03.
• The purchase of 35 load bearing vest carriers from the Ray O’Herron Company of Danville for a total cost of $8,819.30.
• Paying invoices from Anders CPA + Advisors for assistance provided to the department not to exceed the $140,000.00 allocated in the department’s FY2025 budget.
• A Project Change Request from Tyler Technologies totaling $58,100.00 for additional project
  management and training time.
• An ordinance amending The 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Budget that includes a budget increase in the amount of $12,000 for health insurance for a new employee. Increase expenditure budget in the amount of $18,825 to Event Underwriting. Increase Police grant spending by $40,350 for travel, training, mental wellness contract, and capital equipment.
• An ordinance granting A Special Use Permit For A planned development at 422 Jersey St. for warehousing and/or storage of collectible vehicles.
  

Aldermen Eric Entrup (R-1st Ward), Mike Farha (R-4th Ward), Tony Sassen (R-4th Ward) and Ben Uzelac (D-7th Ward) were absent from the meeting, which was held at Quincy Regional Airport as renovations continue to the City Council Chambers.