Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) and SoundThinking leaders explained how automated license plate recognition (ALPR) can accelerate gang investigations, especially when investigators lack a license plate number. This webinar focused on JSO’s deployment strategy, a real case example, and the PlateRanger workflow that helped move from vehicle description to enforcement action.
The webinar featured Sergeant James Hopely of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Jamie Algatt, Vice President of the Solutions Team at SoundThinking, and Nikki Hunter, PlateRanger Solutions Director. Together, they walked through a real-world case study from JSO, discussed operational strategy, and demonstrated how PlateRanger™ ALPR fits into modern investigative workflows.
How ALPR Supports Real-World Gang Investigations – Watch the Webinar on Demand
A Long-Standing Technology Partnership
JSO is Florida’s largest sheriff’s office, serving more than one million residents across six patrol districts with over 3,000 employees. The agency maintains multiple dedicated investigative units covering auto crimes, homicide, robbery, and the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC). Sergeant James Hopely shared perspectives from a 27-year investigative career that included assignments in gang, homicide, and robbery.
SoundThinking and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office have worked together for nearly a decade. The agency currently operates over seven square miles of ShotSpotter gunshot detection coverage, with an eighth square mile in progress. That existing relationship laid the groundwork for the introduction of PlateRanger, with JSO deploying 16 PlateRanger ALPR cameras in late 2025.
Deploying ALPR in High-Priority Areas
JSO’s deployment of PlateRanger ALPR was strategic and driven entirely by data, with cameras placed in areas already covered by ShotSpotter and identified through crime analysis as hotspots for violent activity. Sergeant Hopely described how the agency’s crime analysis unit worked with investigators to identify specific pockets of violent crime in the community. Those locations became the deployment targets.
A few key points from the deployment strategy:
- Camera locations were selected based on crime data analysis and violent crime trends.
- Many cameras were placed in areas where ShotSpotter was already active, allowing the two technologies to work in tandem.
- Initial access was focused on specialized investigative units, including the gang unit and CGIC.
Sergeant Hopely noted that the rollout did not require drastic changes to daily operations. It was more of a natural extension of the tools officers and detectives were already using. Training was provided to ensure rapid adoption, and the technology was operationalized quickly.
A Real-World Gang Investigation
Sergeant Hopely shared a walkthrough of an actual case to illustrate the investigative value of PlateRanger’s ALPR. JSO detectives from the gang unit were conducting surveillance in an area known for violent crime. They observed several gang members get into a vehicle and leave the area. The detectives were in a concealed position and could not break cover to obtain a license plate number, but were able to note certain physical characteristics of the vehicle.
Using PlateRanger alongside other available technologies, the detectives identified the vehicle based on descriptive features such as make, model, color, and year range. That identification led directly to the vehicle’s occupants. Sergeant Hopely emphasized that PlateRanger’s search features were instrumental in this success, offering capabilities not available in the agency’s other tools.
What Makes PlateRanger Different
In addition to the example from JSO, the webinar highlighted several features that distinguish PlateRanger from other LPR solutions on the market.
- Video capture accompanies every plate read, providing a short clip in addition to a still image. This is especially useful for identifying vehicles at night or when plate numbers are unavailable.
- Vehicle descriptor searches allow investigators to query by make, model, color, and year range, not just license plate numbers.
- Built-in analytics and reporting are included at no extra cost. Features such as convoy and interdiction analyses help investigators identify travel patterns and associations among vehicles.
- Real-time alerting supports push notifications via text or email for NCIC hot lists, regional intel lists, Amber Alerts, stolen vehicles, and locally flagged vehicles.
- Camera performance reporting helps agencies evaluate whether cameras are placed in optimal locations and adjust deployments accordingly.
PlateRanger Integration with ShotSpotter
Although the featured case did not originate from a ShotSpotter® event, the two technologies complement each other. When ShotSpotter detects gunfire, PlateRanger can help narrow down which vehicles were near the scene within a specific time window.
That integration enables several outcomes:
- Identifying vehicles in proximity to a shooting event based on time and location.
- Tagging and following a suspect vehicle as it hits additional cameras in the system.
- Directing responding units to intercede and potentially stop a vehicle before a subsequent shooting occurs.
- Recognizing patterns where the same vehicle appears near multiple shooting incidents, which is especially valuable in serial shooter scenarios.
Grant Funding and Flexible Deployment Options
For agencies considering ALPR technology, the webinar addressed a common concern: cost. Presenters noted that grant funding can support PlateRanger deployments, reminding those interested that SoundThinking offers assistance to agencies seeking PlateRanger ALPR, including identifying available grant opportunities within the jurisdiction and grant writing.
The presenters also noted that agencies do not have to commit exclusively to PlateRanger. Many agencies are augmenting their existing ALPR deployments by adding PlateRanger alongside cameras from other vendors.
Security and Compliance
The webinar briefly touched on security and privacy, which are increasingly important topics for law enforcement agencies deploying surveillance technology. PlateRanger includes multi-factor authentication and is designed to meet CJIS compliance requirements. This is especially relevant in states like Florida, where FDLE maintains strict standards around solution security and data privacy.
From Vehicle Description to Investigative Breakthrough
The webinar reinforced several practical lessons for agencies evaluating ALPR technology:
- A license plate is not always available. Vehicle identification by make, model, and color still matters.
- Video context adds a layer of evidentiary value that still images alone cannot provide.
- Built-in analytics reduce the need for additional licensing or third-party tools.
- Strategic camera placement, guided by crime data analysis, maximizes the return on investment.
- ALPR technology pairs naturally with gunshot detection and other public safety technology tools to create a more complete investigative picture.
Taken together, these takeaways point to a clear operational advantage: agencies that can search beyond the plate, validate vehicles with video context, and use analytics to connect events will move faster from observation to action. When ALPR is deployed in the right locations and aligned with existing tools, it becomes more than a camera network. It becomes a consistent, repeatable way to turn partial information into leads that investigators can work in real time.
Interested in adding PlateRanger ALPR to your investigative toolbox? Contact us to learn more.
