The city of Apache Junction will soon have 25 pole-mounted cameras to help the police department identify suspects and solve crimes.
The Apache Junction City Council on June 20 voted unanimously to pay $315,500 for a five-year master services and license agreement with Flock Group Inc. that adds 10 cameras.
The council in May 2022 approved an $80,350 two-year agreement with Flock LLC that included 15 cameras. If one of the solar-powered cameras snaps a photo of a vehicle that has been reported stolen, law enforcement officials are alerted. The rear of the vehicle — including the make, model and color and any other identifying marks — are in the photo, officials said at the time.
“Flock cameras — we currently have 15 throughout the city. These are license-plate readers that have helped us solve crimes and apprehend bad guys and also help find people that need to be found,” Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley said at the council’s June 20 meeting.
Examples he gave at a June 19 council work session included recovering dozens of stolen vehicles and finding missing people including a man from a Silver Alert from a West Valley agency.
“We’ve had multiple where they were criminals that were terrorizing the neighborhoods and we were able to identify just from a vehicle description on who these bad actors were and be able to identify the vehicle, located them and take them into custody,” Pooley said. “Since we installed these things in September we’ve been using it very often and it’s helped us significantly to solve crimes and help save people.”
Anything entered into the National Crime Information Center database will pop up and show if a vehicle is wanted, if it is a missing person or somebody who was involved in criminal activity across the country, he said.
“If you come into Apache Junction we are going to find you if you are committing a crime,” Pooley said.
Council discussion
Prior to the June 20 vote to approve the five-year contract, Councilmember Bryan Soller thanked the Apache Junction Police Department for being crime fighters.
“Chief, I’m really proud that you’re really moving this department forward and we’re becoming real crime fighters and this is really going to help your department. Thank you,” he said.
“Thank you. I love being a crime fighter,” Pooley said.
Councilmember Tess Nesser asked Pooley to supply the council with a monthly update on the cameras.
“Just generically what we’re getting for our money,” she said.
Pooley said he could provide the information.
“Not only for us, but the public also to see if we’re spending this money, we want to show what bang we’re getting for our buck,” Nesser said.
“You’re going to be very excited,” Pooley said.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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