8/28/23

NEW DRONES AND NEW CAMERAS. THAT’S WHAT THE PRESCOTT VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. THE TOWN COUNCIL THURSDAY APPROVED THE $256,000 GRANT. THE MONEY WILL COVER THE COST OF TWO NEW AERIAL DRONES AND A LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM. THE CAMERAS FOR THE LICENSE PLATE READERS WILL BE SET UP ON POLES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN AS WELL AS ON POLICE VEHICLES. OFFICIALS WITH THE PRESCOTT VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSED PRIVACY CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC, STATING THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED LICENSE PLATES ARE CONSIDERED PUBLIC INFORMATION. THEY ADD THIS PROGRAM WILL BE USED TO SOLVE CRIMES, AND WILL NOT BE USED FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION OR FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. ALL DATA COLLECTED BY THE LICENSE PLATE READERS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DELETED EVERY 30 TO 90 DAYS.