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DeSoto police encourage HOAs to buy Flock license‑plate cameras and offer a camera‑registration option for residents
Summary
The DeSoto Police Department described how Flock license‑plate readers and mobile LPR units are used, explained a voluntary camera-registration program for residents and reiterated the nonemergency and Text‑A‑Tip contact options.
Chief Joe Costa and staff described the department’s use of license-plate readers and private surveillance in investigations and encouraged homeowners associations to purchase Flock systems.
Costa explained that the department uses several fixed and mobile license-plate-reader systems (Flock cameras) to identify stolen vehicles, wanted people and vehicles of interest via national and Texas databases. He said HOAs have purchased Flock cameras at roughly $3,000 per camera per year and that neighborhoods may provide the department access to their Flock database or share hits with police.
Why it matters: license-plate readers and private cameras can accelerate investigations, identify suspect vehicles and support targeted enforcement—while raising privacy and access questions that the city must manage.
The chief also discussed a voluntary residential-camera registration program on the department’s website that lets officers know which homes have surveillance cameras so police can request footage more quickly. He said the registration is not a data-mining program: "We can't go in there. We just want... a registration program for us so that we know what addresses have surveillance cameras," Costa said. He added that Ring and other home-video systems are "invaluable" when owners share footage during investigations.
Costa reiterated operational contact methods: 911 for emergencies; nonemergency dispatch at (972) 223-6111 (option 4 for police, which also routes animal control and code enforcement); and Tip411 (text 847411 and include the word DeSoto in the message) for anonymous or nonverbal tips.
Ending: The department encouraged HOAs and residents to share footage or give access when incidents occur to aid investigations and urged residents to register cameras to streamline evidence collection.
