Brandon Twp – Deputies in Brandon Township could slow criminal activity with a new tracking technology device system.
‘The devise can be placed on the car of a suspect to either provide a quick release if his vehicle activity does not coinside with the crime place and time, or charge him quickly and end the activity,? said Tim McIsaac, Sergeant of the Oakland County Sheriff Brandon substation.
McIsaac won approval from the township board to share an $11,115 purchase of the tracking system with both Oxford and Independence townships. Each township committing to $3,705 toward the system.
‘We are sharing the same criminals, so to speak.?
‘Criminals are kind of predatory and all areas could be connected with the crime.?
Board members questioned the legalities of device placement which is often secretly attached to a person’s vehicle.
McIsaac responded ‘that it was is not necessary to obtain a court order for placement.?
‘It falls under the Plain View Doctrine,? said McIsaac. ‘Which means if you can see the car in plain sight it is not invading anyone’s privacy. ‘And it’s not a listening device and the driver does not have to be notified.?
Quick resolution of local criminal activity, and man power cost savings were two further selling points for McIsaac.
The device is capable of tracking the history of a suspect’s path, which could serve to confirm or project a profile of criminal activity.
The sergeant said transmitters could also be placed on a personal protection offender’s vehicle. If the offender comes within a certain distance of the victims’s home the device will automatically dial 9-1-1.
Many criminal activity cases are shared or cross boundary crime sprees within the Oxford, Independence, Brandon borders.
‘We’re all getting hammered right now,? said McIsaac referring to the rash of larcenies occurring in Brandon, Oxford, and Independence townships.
‘If this can slow that activity down it will be a godsend.?
The motion to approve the joint purchase was unanimous.