JONESBORO, Ark. — The Jonesboro Police Department credits a network of automated license plate readers for reducing crime during the holidays and discouraging out-of-town criminals from targeting the city.
The department currently operates 55 Flock Safety cameras across Jonesboro, which contribute to the city's Real-Time Crime Center, a network of over 800 video feeds. Police Chief Rick Elliott described the technology as transformative for investigations but stressed that officers are not actively monitoring drivers in real time.
“It’s impossible,” Elliott said. “The cameras are there. They record. If there’s something under investigation, whether it’s an accident or a crime, officers can review footage from a specific date and time to gather evidence.”
To prevent misuse, officials noted that the camera system is not an open-access tool. Officers must provide an active case number, offense code, and investigative justification each time they search the database. Furthermore, access by outside agencies has been restricted due to concerns over improper use.
Flock cameras capture detailed still images of vehicles, including license plates and features such as bumper stickers or rooftop racks. These tools have proven particularly useful in cases involving stolen vehicles, property thefts, and crimes crossing state lines, according to Elliott.
“They’ll go unsolved,” Elliott explained, reflecting on how similar cases were often closed without resolution earlier in his career. “This technology has made a huge difference.”
The cameras appear to have had a broader impact on criminal behavior. Video analyst Brandon Reid of the Real-Time Crime Center reported a noticeable decline in crime between the 2024 and 2025 holiday seasons, attributing the trend to increased awareness among offenders about the monitoring.
“Word is getting out,” Reid said. “From the holiday season of 2024 through 2025, we saw a clear reduction in crime. The Flock system played a significant role.”
Chief Elliott also noted that people from outside Jonesboro are involved in roughly 26% to 28% of all arrests in the city. He emphasized the importance of deterring non-residents from committing crimes locally.
“If we can deter people from coming to Jonesboro to commit crimes because of the fear of apprehension, so be it,” Elliott said. “My goal is to keep Jonesboro safe, and I’m not backing down.”
The department’s approach reflects a growing trend of using technology to bolster public safety while managing concerns about privacy and accountability.