The Palm Springs Police Department is set to significantly enhance its surveillance capabilities following the city council’s recent approval of purchasing new drones and automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras.
This investment continues the department’s ongoing integration of advanced technology over recent years. The council’s approval of an expenditure of approximately $677,712 will expand the police department’s drone fleet from one to 14 and increase the number of ALPR cameras from 15 to 40.
In a memorandum to the council, the police department highlighted that the additional drones will improve response times during critical incidents and streamline evidence collection. Another memo indicated that the increased number of ALPR cameras would help deter crime citywide.
Funding for these surveillance enhancements comes from a $4.5 million Board of State and Community Corrections retail theft prevention grant awarded to Palm Springs last fall.
The city’s adoption of these new technologies is a recent initiative. Palm Springs acquired its first drone in 2022 and approved the use of ALPR cameras in 2023. Of the initial 15 ALPR cameras, only 11 have been installed so far.
The police department has outlined specific uses for the expanded drone fleet. Three drones will be allocated for building searches, particularly during search warrants or potential violent confrontations, while four drones will be dedicated to training purposes. Drones can be rapidly deployed to incidents, providing critical information to officers before they arrive on the scene.
The city’s existing drone has been deployed over 150 times since its purchase. The most recent report available, from June, shows it was used for traffic monitoring at East Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon Drive and North Gene Autry Trail and East Vista Chino for a total of 110 minutes. It was also used for 12 minutes during a SWAT operation.
The existing ALPR cameras have proven effective, aiding in the recovery of 30 stolen vehicles and contributing to several criminal investigations.
The exact locations for the new ALPR cameras have not yet been determined. The current cameras are positioned around the city’s perimeter, and the new cameras will likely be placed in areas with high incidences of retail theft, auto theft, and catalytic converter theft.
The police department retains ALPR data for 30 days. A city-provided website, aimed at enhancing transparency, states that in the past 30 days, 305,004 vehicles were detected, with 1,800 of those flagged in law enforcement databases.
Image source: DJI