MACON, Ga. — After all four Bibb jail escapees are back in police, Sheriff David Davis said it was all thanks to technology.
Sheriff David Davis said Flock License Plate Recognition cameras were the key to finding the inmates who escaped the Bibb County Jail on Oct. 16.
While Bibb County's Flock system isn't up and running yet, they used information from other Georgia counties to help locate the runaways.
"When a vehicle passes," Holly Beilin explained, "they capture a picture of the back of the vehicle, the license plate and then they identify details about the vehicle, such as the color make and model of the vehicle."
Beilin has worked with Flock Safety for the past three years. She says the License Plate Recognition (LPR) system helps track down wanted people, like the four inmates who escaped the Bibb County Jail.
The blue Dodge Challenger used in the escape was used to track down not only the inmates but co-conspirators and gang members.
"Officers and investigators are then able to use the LPR system, which is connected in different counties and throughout the state to search for this suspect vehicle," Beilin said.
In June, the state awarded a public safety grant to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office of $1.5 million. Davis said they're investing in about 100 cameras.
Since then, Davis' agency was registered and has had access to the statewide Flock cameras.
The sheriff said they used deployed cameras from surrounding counties, such as Augusta-Richmond County and the Atlanta metro area.
"Those Flock cameras that were in those particular jurisdictions were very helpful in helping us capturing Johnifer Barnwell," Davis said.
It also led them to Jacorshia Smith and Janecia Green. They are both 30-years-old.
"Ms. Green and Ms. Smith were basically swapping cars while they were going to visit Mr. Barnwell over in Augusta," Davis said.
Davis says his department's goal is to have the cameras up and running early next year. He said expects to accomplish that goal by March of 2024.
He hopes they'll help not only solve crimes but also find missing persons.
"Sometimes we have cases where people will just leave and get lost, so we have lookouts on their vehicles," Davis said. "This is something that will help us in that regard."