Trophy Club, TX (April 04, 2022) – This past October, the Trophy Club Police Department invested in a new license plate reading camera system that could capture crucial details of vehicles entering town and cross check them with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data base.
That system, contracted from Flock Safety, has provided the town an extra crime fighting tool. While the cameras, have only been up for a few months, they are already helping TCPD keep Trophy Club safe. The TCPD is committed to transparency and therefore would like to share a few of the camera system’s successes.
- Stolen Vehicle Alert. TCPD Officers were notified about a stolen vehicle as it entered Trophy Club. (As a reminder, the cameras only capture inbound vehicles only and cover the five major entry points of town. Additionally, the TCPD DOES NOT retain license plate information, and therefore does not participate in programs that do to include the Texas DPS/LPR program.) This particular vehicle was listed in the NCIC database as stolen and when it arrived into TC, the database notified officers of its presence. When TCPD Officers spoke with the driver, they were informed that he was in fact the owner of the vehicle. He further informed officers that his vehicle had been stolen in Dallas but was recovered and returned to him. The vehicle was not removed from the National database (NCIC), which is why the TCPD team received the alert when the vehicle entered the community.
Officers worked diligently with the vehicle owner and the Dallas PD to ensure the vehicle was removed from the national database, ensuring this would not happen again in another city. The owner was very appreciative of the TCPD’s efforts.
- Outstanding Warrant Alert. The TCPD was notified of a vehicle that entered Trophy Club which had a NCIC outstanding warrant from Kansas. TCPD Officers made contact with the driver and while speaking to the individual, the officer noticed an open container of alcohol in the front cup holder of the vehicle.
Officers arrested the driver of the vehicle for the warrant and drug possession with the following items seized during the arrest:
Local Probation Warrant Alert. The TCPD was notified of another alert of a vehicle that had entered Town which also had a warrant attached to the license plate. This warrant was out of Tarrant County for a probation violation (State Jail Felony). TCPD Officers located the vehicle, and while speaking with the driver, the officers smelled marijuana. When asked if the driver had marijuana in the car, the driver stated that there was “a lot” of marijuana in the vehicle. The passenger of the vehicle told TCPD Officers that the driver had just sold marijuana to his “best customer” in Trophy Club.
Officers arrested the driver of the vehicle for the warrant and drug possession with an intent to distribute with the following items seized during the arrest:
- Marijuana (a lot)
- Scale
- Pill bottle containing multiple different pills
- A grinder
- Local Theft Warrant Alert. The TCPD was alerted of a vehicle that had entered Town which again had outstanding arrest warrants associated with that license plate. TCPD Officers learned that the occupants of the vehicle had arrest warrants out of Roanoke for theft of property greater than $750 but less than $2,000, and theft of property less than $2,500 with two or more previous convictions (State Jail Felony Warrants).
Officers were able to stop the vehicle and take the occupants into custody for the outstanding warrants.
The Flock Camera system is succeeding in letting the Trophy Club Police Department know that criminals are entering the community. These examples are evidence that the technology can help to make TC safer.
“I am pleased with the successes we have had so far. These cameras are an asset to the department and our officers”, said Chief Arata. “I know they will only continue to help us catch bad people and make our residents safer”.
If you have any questions, please contact the Trophy Club Police Department at 682.237.2960 or visit www.trophyclub.org/police.
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