The Atlanta-based startup has released its Condor video camera, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help police agencies and other law enforcement organizations keep tabs on crime.
With its energy coming from the sun, the Condor can “be placed anywhere, including areas without access to continuous electrical power, without disruption to the community or maintenance and installation hassles,” according to a statement from the company.
As is the case with so many public safety technology suppliers in 2024, Flock Safety said its newest product can also help U.S. law enforcement agencies deal with an ongoing shortage of police officers. The camera, with its flexibility of deployment, can provide deterrence and coverage levels that could be lost in a staffing shortage.
“Condor pairs live video with [license plate recognition] LPR and audio detection, providing better situational awareness for law enforcement and security teams,” Garrett Langley, CEO and founder of Flock Safety, said in the statement.
Solar-powered public safety tools are hardly new — and some departments are using solar to run gunshot detection systems, as state and local governments in general increasingly turn to renewable energy.
But even as Flock Safety touts the crime-busting features of its technology — the company says its tools help solve 700,000 crimes each year — products like Condor are sure to spark more debate about surveillance tools the company and its competitors offer.
Meanwhile, as momentum toward “green” energy continues to grow, some members of the law enforcement community are raising concerns about the pragmatism of that energy — a point that tends to focus on the practical aspects of EVs for police. Solar energy, of course, has one key potential drawback: it’s not available around the clock.
