‘It’s been like a warzone here’: Auburn father hopes new police tech will find his son’s shooter

The Auburn Police Department announced it is installing 20 license plate recognition cameras to help reduce crime.

The cameras, built by Flock Safety LPR, will send real-time alerts to law enforcement when a car or a known wanted suspect is detected.

“This not going to be picking up any sort of traffic infractions. This is strictly for crimes being committed by suspects in criminal activity, missing persons, AMBER and silver alerts, so general public shouldn’t have any concern,” said Public Information Officer Kolby Crossley.

This technology is welcome news to Derek Bodine, whose son was shot three times on June 29th just a block away from his Auburn home.

“It’s been like a warzone here the last six weeks or so,” Bodine said.

Police are still searching for the gunman in Talon’s case.

Since then, there have been several shootings involving teens throughout the city.

“As a father I’m fearful for my son. We haven’t been home really. Like, I’m here now, but we haven’t been home. He hasn’t spent the night here because he’s afraid to return home,” Bodine added.

Auburn police hope the license plate recognition cameras can help solve these types of cases sooner.

“In the short period of time they have been deployed in Auburn, they have been utilized in the recovery of several stolen vehicles and locating and arresting two homicide suspects,” said Mark Caillier, Chief of the Auburn Police Department.

They also send out alerts if a vehicle connected to a missing persons case such as an AMBER or Silver Alert is detected.

“Whatever technology is available to try and take these people off the street and put them where they belong and give the city back to the people who want a good community, I’m all for it,” Bodine said.

Police say they’ll be able to track stolen cars and criminals with other cities who use Flock cameras too.

“The fact that other cities have this nearby means we are allowed to correlate that data so we can track a vehicle if its moving through here to other neighboring cities,” Crossley added.

The cameras will be installed throughout the city, but no specific locations have been announced.