Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft issued a statement regarding the use of License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras within Vernon Parish to educate the public and address misinformation about the technology as an investigative tool.
The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office said it is committed to using technology responsibly to enhance public safety while respecting the privacy and constitutional rights of citizens.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, LPR technology is used to support criminal investigations by providing investigators with leads in cases involving stolen vehicles, violent crimes, burglaries, missing persons and other reported offenses. LPR cameras may also be referred to as FLOCK cameras, which is the manufacturer of a particular brand of LPR camera.
The Sheriff’s Office said LPR cameras have been installed on public rights-of-way with approval from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and Louisiana State Police. Camera placement complies with applicable state law and court decisions governing the use of technology in public spaces.
The department said LPR systems capture images of license plates and vehicle characteristics visible from public roadways. The technology does not identify drivers or passengers, use facial recognition or monitor or report cellular devices located within a vehicle.
Instead, the Sheriff’s Office said LPR technology records information already exposed to public view, including direction of travel and license plate information, which can assist investigators in establishing timelines, identifying investigative leads and corroborating evidence during criminal investigations.
The department said access to LPR data is limited to authorized personnel for legitimate law enforcement purposes. The system operates under departmental policies governing data access, retention, auditing and appropriate use.
Since implementation, the Sheriff’s Office said LPR technology has assisted deputies in numerous criminal investigations and public safety incidents, including identifying and apprehending suspects involved in thefts and burglaries, recovering stolen vehicles and property, and locating suspects who have fled into neighboring jurisdictions.
The Sheriff’s Office said LPR technology assisted in the recovery of a stolen Vernon Parish school bus connected to a multi-jurisdictional theft investigation, locating a vehicle stolen during the commission of a violent crime and tracking a stolen motorcycle across multiple parishes until it was recovered.
The department also said LPR data has helped law enforcement determine the direction of travel of suspect vehicles, allowing neighboring agencies to coordinate responses during critical investigations.
Beyond criminal investigations, the Sheriff’s Office said LPR technology has helped locate individuals who became disoriented while driving due to neurological impairment. By identifying vehicle locations, deputies were able to coordinate with partner agencies to safely locate and reunite those individuals with their families.
The department said the technology has also helped protect individuals during investigations. In one case, LPR imagery confirmed that property being transported by a suspect vehicle did not match items reported as stolen, allowing investigators to eliminate a person of interest.
The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office said LPR technology assists investigators in developing leads, recovering stolen property, locating missing and vulnerable individuals, supporting regional law enforcement partnerships and helping ensure investigations are effective and fair.
The department said it remains committed to transparency, accountability and open communication with the public regarding the use of the technology.
Community members with questions about the Sheriff’s Office License Plate Reader program are encouraged to contact the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office for additional information about policies, safeguards and the role of the technology in protecting the community.
For additional information, contact:
Sheriff Sam Craft
Chief Deputy Calvin Turner
Detective Ben Burwell