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Technology Transparency
Enhancing Public Safety and Transparency
Technology plays a vital role in the modern practices of the Prosper Police Department. It enhances our ability to serve and protect effectively and efficiently. From advanced crime-solving tools like the Flock Safety and Public Safety Drone programs to data-driven decision-making using dashboard visualizations, these innovations improve response times, public safety and operational efficiency. Equally important is ensuring transparency in the use of these technologies, fostering trust between law enforcement and the community. This page provides clear information about the tools and technologies used by our department, their purposes and the safeguards in place to protect privacy and uphold accountability.
Flock Overview
The Prosper Police Department utilizes a variety of products and services from Flock Safety Inc. These products include license plate readers, live-feed cameras, mobile camera trailers, 911 streaming, traffic analytics, and a real-time crime center platform. For more detailed information on the Prosper Police Department's use of these technologies, visit Flock Transparency.
License Plate Readers (LPR)
The Prosper Police Department uses a series of license plate readers along inbound roadways and main thoroughfares throughout the town. These cameras capture still photos (scans) focused on the rear of vehicles. License plates are autonomously checked through state and national databases to identify potential stolen vehicles, known offenders, or vehicles associated with wanted or missing persons. In criminal cases, victims often provide vehicle descriptions or partial information, and by using this system, officers and detectives can query the scans by vehicle type, color, or license plate to identify possible suspects with limited information. All scans are stored for 30 days and purged if not saved in direct relation to a case. Users must input a reason for each query, documenting the legitimate law enforcement purpose (e.g., a case number). These reasons and queries are audited by program management personnel to ensure compliance with state requirements and agency policy.
Live Feed Cameras
The Prosper Police Department uses several live-feed cameras across the town to complement license plate readers in areas with high public traffic or a high density of calls for service. Six live cameras are positioned at the gates of the Prosper shopping center, and mobile camera trailers equipped with live cameras are used to target specific crime series and deter potential offenders. The mobile camera trailers are also deployed at special town events to provide overwatch and situational awareness for command personnel. Similar to license plate readers, live-feed video is purged after 30 days and is only retained for longer periods if directly related to a case.
911 Streaming
The Prosper Police Department utilizes Flock911 to stream active 911 calls to the computers of responding officers, Real-Time Intelligence Unit (RTIU), and command personnel. This tool allows officers to listen to how a caller responds and hear relevant information as it is received without having to read call notes while enroute to calls for service. Additionally, these calls can benefit RTIU personnel as they teleoperate Drone-First-Responders and assist with calls for service.
Public Safety Drones Overview
The Prosper Police Department utilizes public safety drones in two primary functions: patrol-based drone operations and Drone as First Responders (DFR). This project was partially funded by grant monies from MVCPA (Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority). MVCPA’s generous grant will help us effectively increase our efforts in auto theft and other related offenses. View DFR scenario simulation video.
Prosper Police Department Flight Dashboard
DFR is used specifically to reactively respond to emergency calls for service and enhance our ability to serve you. To achieve transparency with you, our valued community members, we use software that automatically tracks and logs all drone flights launched by our department that are publicly available for review on the Prosper Police Department's Flight Dashboard.
Patrol-Based Drone Operations
Patrol-based drone operations provide both police and fire personnel with a versatile and efficient tool to enhance officer and public safety. Drones are particularly valuable for search-and-rescue operations, offering aerial perspectives that speed up the location of missing persons or individuals in distress. They improve situational awareness during critical incidents by providing real-time overwatch, helping officers assess risks and coordinate responses more effectively. Additionally, drones enhance officer safety by allowing personnel to monitor potentially hazardous situations from a distance, reducing direct exposure to danger. This technology enables faster, more informed decision-making, ultimately supporting the department’s mission to protect and serve the community with precision and care.
All members of the Drone Unit are required to hold a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 license prior to taking part in flight operations. Additionally, the Town of Prosper operates under both a Blanket and a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) of FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA), which authorizes the Prosper Police Department to fly beyond visual line of sight at 400 feet. All drones are compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). All flights are logged and recorded in compliance with FAA regulations.
Note: The department adheres to a strict policy and procedure to protect privacy and ensure that drone operations do not violate the privacy rights of individuals.
Drone as First Responders (DFR)
Similar to patrol-based drone operations, Drone as First Responder (DFR) provide a technology-driven approach to increase efficiency and effectiveness when responding to calls for service. When a 911 call comes into the emergency communications center, dispatchers can initiate a drone mission to respond to the scene before ground personnel arrive. In less than 90 seconds, teleoperators can have a visual of an accident scene, a crime in progress, or even simple calls like parking complaints. Teleoperators then relay information to field personnel and provide critical updates, such as if a suspect is leaving a scene and where they are headed. Teleoperators are embedded in the Prosper Police Department's Real-Time Intelligence Unit.
Body-Worn Camera Systems
Body-worn camera (BWC) systems are valuable tools that promote accountability, transparency and trust in law enforcement. These cameras provide an objective record of interactions between officers and the public, helping ensure accurate documentation of incidents. They offer an avenue for conversations and incidents to be recorded from the officer’s perspective. By capturing video evidence, BWCs enhance investigative processes and reduce reliance on conflicting accounts. Investigators and prosecutors rely on BWC footage when reviewing incident reports and case files.
BWC videos also serve as a training resource, helping officers improve practices and interactions. Furthermore, BWCs can promote positive behavior from officers during encounters, fostering mutual respect and reducing the likelihood of disputes. This technology reinforces the Prosper Police Department’s commitment to building trust while upholding professional standards and continuing to provide excellent municipal service.
Department Management and Information Sharing Systems
The Prosper Police Department utilizes a customized online software suite to facilitate inter-departmental communication and document information critical to maintaining accreditation standards through the Texas Police Chiefs Association. Shift briefings, department training, intelligence bulletins and department announcements are published for all personnel to review and stay up to date on pertinent information and crime reduction operations. Additionally, information on trainee performance, pursuits, crashes and responses to resistance are recorded for review by supervisors and the Office of the Chief.
The Prosper Police Department also uses a decentralized Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) model of technology integrations that bring several key data elements into a "single pane of glass" for officers to use during the course of their duties. Managed by the Real-Time Intelligence Unit (RTIU), the RTCC includes information on active calls for service, officer locations, license plate and live camera locations, building pre-plans and community camera registry. From the RTCC, officers can receive alerts (such as for stolen vehicles, wanted or missing persons, or vehicles associated with a prior criminal offense) to see where they were scanned in town or identify possible suspects from crimes in progress.