MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio – Criminals will have a tougher time avoiding capture if they drive through Middleburg Heights.
Police Chief Ed Tomba provided an update to the city’s Safety Committee on Nov. 22 about how well Middleburg’s 17 Flock Safety automatic license plate reading cameras are working. The equipment has been in operation for the past few months, with an additional portable camera slated to be in service in early 2023.
The passive infrared motion detection cameras monitor several entry points to the city. They are not used for ticketing speeders or for facial recognition, but to identify stolen vehicles, drivers with outstanding felony warrants, vehicles tied to AMBER alerts and those involved at crime scenes or fleeing an incident.
A picture is taken of the back of every vehicle, and the license plate number is run through the National Crime Information Center. Approximately 50 police departments throughout the area link their camera coverages and receive alerts 7 to 15 seconds after an offending vehicle enters their particular jurisdiction.
“We have had several hits on these cameras, including stolen vehicles, missing persons and, most notably, last week we had a homicide suspect from Cleveland that (alerted) on our cameras a couple of times,” Tomba said. “One of our officers spotted him coming off of Craigmere (Drive) at Bagley Road.”
A highway chase ensued, with the suspect eventually crashing the vehicle. After a short foot chase, the officer used his taser to subdue and apprehend the man.
“Currently, we have access to more than 900 cameras across three counties,” Tomba said. “So, it’s a good system, and the officers are really getting used to it now. They get the (alerts) right on their phones.
“It’s a good resource for us, and I think it was definitely money well spent,” he added. “It is paying huge dividends for the safety of the city.”
Tomba will present another update to the committee in six months.
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