Lakewood Police report drops in key property crimes, say Flock cameras and targeted units helped cut stolen vehicles 67%

Chief Patrick Smith told the Lakewood City Council on March 10 that the Lakewood Police Department saw declines in several major crime categories in 2024 and credited staffing, targeted enforcement and technology deployments.

“In 2024, we were able to increase the numbers to our of our officers to make sure that we were at maximum capacity for our city,” Chief Patrick Smith said during the council study session.

The department reported 49,810 calls for service in 2024 and 44,110 dispatches. Chief Smith listed staffing at 102 sworn officers, seven limited commission officers and seven civilians, plus two K‑9s. The department reported 2,059 arrests for the year (a roughly 10% increase year over year); 1,643 violent‑crime incidents; 3,324 property‑crime incidents; and 828 investigative cases assigned to the criminal investigations unit.

Property crime measures showed marked improvements in 2024: the department reported a 67% year‑over‑year reduction in motor vehicle thefts and an approximate 26% reduction in stolen property. Burglaries were down nearly 20%; vandalism declined about 29%. The department said these results reflect a combination of technology, investigative strategy and targeted enforcement.

Chief Smith highlighted the use of Flock license‑plate reader cameras, which he described as “a game changer” for recovering stolen vehicles and supporting investigations. He said most Flock cameras are installed and working, but rollout was briefly delayed by permitting requirements; the department said images and hit metadata are retained by Flock for 30 days unless preserved as evidence, and that Flock provides a tracking and audit system the department can use for investigative follow‑up.

The department also described several specialized efforts: a retail‑theft emphasis and a new business‑district car (two officers assigned full time to the town center) that produced 82 arrests and recovered about $10,000 in merchandise; a growing drone team used for search and scene support; and a behavior health contact team that responded to 760 care‑response episodes and 236 new behavioral‑health admissions.

Use‑of‑force and accountability metrics were included in the packet: the department reported 121 uses of force, 91 pursuits and internal‑affairs findings that included seven sustained complaints. Chief Smith said training hours for officers are a continuing priority and noted recognition from the International Association of Chiefs of Police for work on motor‑vehicle theft.

Council members asked for follow‑up data on prosecution outcomes and whether higher arrest numbers are translating to more prosecutions or convictions; Chief Smith said the department has provided additional report‑writing and warrant‑preparation training to improve case quality and that the prosecuting authority has generally collaborated with the department, but he did not provide prosecution disposition statistics at the meeting.

On Flock data and auditing, Assistant Chief John Unfred said Flock captures image-based hits and retains images for 30 days unless they are uploaded to the department evidence system; the department keeps metadata and can provide hit counts and analytics upon request.

Why it matters: the data and departmental initiatives described would affect public safety priorities, patrol deployment and technology budgets; the department also identified personnel and legislative issues (pursuit and juvenile interaction rules) that shape operations.

Next steps: council members requested a follow‑up report with Flock use metrics (hits per period, arrests or recoveries linked to Flock), court disposition statistics to track prosecution outcomes, and continued quarterly updates from the chief.

Sources: Lakewood Police 2024 annual report and study-session presentation, March 10, 2025; remarks by Chief Patrick Smith, Assistant Chief John Unfred and other department staff.