BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – “If not already, this initiative will become the premier tech and software support fund for law enforcement in 2025.”A
Alex Byo, a speaker at today’s press conference in downtown Baton Rouge, says confidence in one of the city’s most recent crime-cracking technologies is high. Local law enforcement leaders agree.
”Hundreds of investigations were conducted last year with the help of LPR’s,” said Baton Rouge Chief of Police, TJ Morse.
License plate readers, or “L-P-R’s” are expected to continue making a major impact when it comes to tracking vehicles of interest in 2025. The high-powered cameras can log the numbers on license plates as they pass by – even those in vehicles moving at a high rate of speed. Morse said that last year alone over 100,000 plates were entered into the National Crime Information Center.
“Approximately 100 stolen vehicles were recovered by BRPD officers using LPR’s last year,” says Morse. “With over $1 million being recovered in monetary value.”
Major Willie Stewart of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office points out that these powerful cameras strategically placed around the capitol region can be utilized for more than just tracking plates.
“We believe this camera initiative is vital for public safety,” said Stewart. “We use these cameras, these LPR’s in combating property crime, violent crime, as well as locating missing or endangered people.”
Clay Young, chairman of the Louisiana Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation says these camera cost about $60,000 each. Today’s pledge of $200,000 will put cameras on I-110 and other sections of the interstate.
The money will come from the page-rice public safety initiative, founded on the legacies of two young lives taken by senseless gun violence.
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