Police Sharpen Public Safety and Security With Federal Signal's Advanced Technology

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain Jeff Butler of the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) had a hunch that data collected by Cincinnati's Federal Signal PIPS automated license/number plate recognition (ALPR/ANPR) system could help solve an armed robbery. Federal Signal's total solutions for public safety and security helped his hunch deliver big results.

Technology protects communities

After a recent armed robbery occurred in Cheviot, a suburb of Cincinnati, Capt. Butler contacted police there to see if there was an associated license plate number -- there was. The plate in question belonged to a man who was in prison. Capt. Butler then turned to Heather Whitton in the Information Technology Section of the CPD to see what information could be uncovered on the suspect vehicle. Cincinnati's integrated Federal Signal PIPS BOSS public safety database provided a snapshot of the vehicle with key identifying marks. As a result, Whitton was able to map all sightings of the suspect vehicle and found that it was often seen on a specific street.

Putting the pieces together

The facts provided by the BOSS database enabled police to find the vehicle, track it and wait for the suspect. Capt. Butler noted, "The photos were shown to the suspect, and he knew that we had him. Without the system, this individual would probably still be on the streets presenting a danger to our officers and to the public." Butler added that the BOSS database has helped his agency solve multiple cases, including several homicides.

"Throughout my career, I've always known Federal Signal as a trusted name in public safety, but had always known them for their more traditional products. Our experience with their license plate recognition product has opened my eyes to their new capabilities, and I am looking forward to understanding more about their solutions and how they can help us protect our community," concluded Capt. Butler.

Craig Cantrell, vice president and general manager of PIPS Technology Inc., said, "We believe that Cincinnati's progressive approach to public safety will inspire other law enforcement leaders to see the immediate benefits of turning to Federal Signal to deploy a robust portfolio of public safety and security tools to enhance well-being in communities around the world."

About PIPS

PIPS Technology, a Federal Signal Company, is a pioneer and the international market leader in the design and manufacture of automated license plate recognition technology and optical character recognition software. With more than 15,000 cameras installed worldwide, PIPS continues to set the standard for both mobile and fixed system deployments across a wide range of applications. The Codespear-enabled Federal Signal PIPS system is part of the Federal Signal Public Safety Systems industry platform. For more information on PIPS, visit: pipstechnology.com.

About Federal Signal

Federal Signal Corporation enhances the safety, security and well-being of communities and workplaces around the world. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and institutional customers. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the Company operates three groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions and Fire Rescue. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: federalsignal.com .