FLOCK is a system placed in various locations around South Windsor that uses Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR). When a vehicle passes, the system takes a picture of the rear of the vehicle and the license plate.
The system checks the car against current hot lists for stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, wanted persons, Amber Alerts, or individuals flagged for suicidal ideation.
FLOCK stores all collected data for 30 days before automatically deleting it. During that time, officers can search for specific vehicles to see if they have passed any SW cameras.
FLOCK cameras are located on main roads in South Windsor where there is high traffic and higher crime rates. While the exact locations are not publicly disclosed, the cameras are in plain view, mounted on roadside poles.
Officers can also customize FLOCK to track certain vehicles of interest.
“A search may result in us seeing a matching make, model, and color of a vehicle,” said Sergeant Michael Prescher, unit supervisor at the South Windsor Police Department. “Since FLOCK captures the full license plate, we can run that plate through DMV files to identify the owner and track down a suspect for our investigation.”
The system sends real-time alerts when a vehicle on a hot list passes a camera. Dispatchers monitor these alerts and can quickly send officers to the vehicle’s last known location. Since April 2025, officers have recovered multiple stolen vehicles and made arrests that might have otherwise been missed.
All officers and dispatchers have individual logins to access the FLOCK system. Private properties that have subscribed to FLOCK also have access. Officers can view the system through patrol cars and mobile phones.
Each FLOCK camera costs about $3,000 per year. The cameras are solar-powered and can operate for up to 10 days without sunlight.
The system is nationwide, meaning that if a suspect is fleeing across the U.S., law enforcement agencies can track the vehicle as it passes other FLOCK systems.
FLOCK has allowed the SWPD to solve many crimes, helping find vehicles that could have been overlooked.
“Manchester PD had a suspect vehicle ram a cruiser and strike an officer on the midnight shift. That vehicle then fled into South Windsor, triggering our FLOCK cameras as well as a private business camera. South Windsor officers located the vehicle at a private business, where it struck another cruiser and engaged officers in pursuit. During the pursuit, the suspect threw out their wallet and ID in an attempt to avoid detection. We recovered the ID and were able to positively identify the suspect, who ultimately crashed and fled on foot,” Sergeant Prescher said.
