Harahan police report 680 calls in February, highlight FLOCK camera use and interagency access

Harahan Police Chief provided the council with crime and service statistics for February and described use of the FLOCK license-plate reader camera network during the March 20 meeting.

Chief reported 680 calls for service in February, 13 accidents, 113 citations, 264 traffic enforcements and 64 medical calls. The department logged 74 arrests in the month, including 10 felonies and 49 misdemeanors; 35 arrests were for outstanding fugitive attachments. The chief also said 14 stolen vehicles were detected on the FLOCK camera system during the month and five stolen license-plate incidents were recorded.

"It's a great tool for law enforcement," the chief said of the FLOCK system, noting Harahan currently has five cameras and that cameras on the system are viewable by other jurisdictions that participate nationwide. He warned the council that cameras require an annual subscription fee, which must be budgeted rather than purchased with one-time funds.

The chief also announced an active recruiting effort for police applicants and cautioned residents about phone and online scams impersonating toll or government agencies.

Why it matters: The FLOCK camera network has helped the department detect stolen vehicles and coordinate investigations with other jurisdictions; the recurring costs and staffing needs for policing and camera subscriptions have budget implications for the city.

Next steps: Chief said the department will pursue additional cameras if funding and community partnerships allow; he asked residents to register private cameras with the police department app to aid investigations.