FCPD Marks Two Years of Advanced LPR Technology, Enhancing Safety Standards

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Fairfax County, VA – The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is proud to mark the two-year anniversary of its implementation of License Plate Reader (LPR) technology. This key data-informed policing initiative, launched in November 2022, has proved to be an invaluable asset in ensuring the safety and security of the Fairfax County community.

Since the adoption of this LPR technology, FCPD has experienced numerous successes in its ongoing mission to prevent crime, enhance public safety, and serve the community. License Plate Readers, or LPRs, have been commonplace in policing for many years. The FCPD is using cutting-edge LPR technology from Flock Safety and Axon to elevate the Department’s ability to solve crimes and find missing people. Both fixed and mobile LPRs have been used in an impressive number of cases over the past two years.

Key Benefits of LPR Technology:

  1. Crime Prevention: LPRs have significantly enhanced investigative efforts and solved hundreds of complex cases over the past two years, including malicious woundings, attempted rapes, burglaries, and other offenses. Most recently, FCPD has utilized LPR technology in our fight against organized retail crime.
  1. Recovery Efforts: The use of LPR technology has resulted in an incredible number of stolen vehicles being successfully located and returned to their rightful owners. In the past two years, FCPD’s officers and detectives have also utilized LPR technology to recover 43 firearms and locate 30 critical missing people in Fairfax County.
  2. Community Engagement: The LPR technology has allowed our officers to be more proactive in their work addressing traffic-related issues and engaging with residents, thereby fostering more trust and cooperation within the community.

“The FCPD remains committed to leading the way in data-informed policing practices, utilizing technology responsibly to align with the needs and expectations of our community,” said Chief Kevin Davis. “LPR technology has made a significant impact on our community, enhancing our ability to safeguard and serve Fairfax County. The notable outcomes we have witnessed these past two years reflect the dedication of our officers and the strong support from our community.”

FCPD has made multiple changes to its LPR program since its inception to better serve the needs of the community, including a 92% reduction in data retention length by keeping the stored data for only 30 days across all LPR systems. Additionally, FCPD does not get any LPR alerts regarding immigration enforcement warrants, driver’s licenses, registration, or inspection violations.

Community engagement events continue throughout the county where community members can discuss the department’s use of technology to solve crime. A reinforced policy, expanded training, and accountable oversight measures are all part of the numerous additions to the program.

The FCPD plans to continue its use of LPR technology and enhance its crime-fighting capabilities while strengthening community partnerships regarding its use of technology. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing to work with the community to further enhance public safety and ensure that Fairfax County remains a safe place to live, work, and play.

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