Hopkinsville’s police chief says the flock cameras recently acquired by the police department after approval by Hopkinsville City Council is the best investment they have made in a long time that has had an immediate impact on fighting crime in the city.
Chief Clayton Sumner made the statement when asked for an update about the flock cameras during his quarterly report at Thursday night’s Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole meeting. He said the cameras have picked up several stolen vehicles and led to several arrests, including an arrest on Thursday of a shoplifter with outstanding warrants.
He said the flock cameras also hit on two stolen vehicles Wednesday night that led to a pursuit and may have deterred a shooting within the city.
Sumner added he has been shocked by the results — so much so that he sent a letter to Mayor Wendell Lynch and Chief Executive Officer Troy Body asking if they could start the process to double the number of flock cameras they have in the City of Hopkinsville. In addition, Sumner said other nearby communities — Pembroke, Lafayette, Crofton and Oak Grove — are possibly interested in purchasing flock cameras.
In October, City Council approved the purchase of up to $30,000 for ten flock cameras requested by the Hopkinsville Police Department to be set up at different locations around the city. Sergeant Seth Meeks explained at that meeting the flock cameras are an enhanced license plate reader that Sergeant Seth Meeks said at that meeting will be another investigative tool used by the police department to help fight crime in the city.
Sumner also provided an update regarding overall crime and collisions, which both increased last year in comparison to 2020. The total crimes comparison report showed 2,073 total crimes reported in 2020 and 2,231 total crimes last year. Chief Clayton Sumner said he believes the uptick last year is because COVID-19 kept more residents at home in 2020 and deterred criminal activity.
Chief Sumner said even though the overall crime increased in the last two years when compared to the last 10 years the city is in a good position. In 2011, the yearly total reported overall crime was 2,818 with the highest overall crime reported in the last decade with 2,978 cases occurring in 2012.
In addition, Chief Sumner said they don’t know why but collisions increased by 20% in 2021 from 2020 with 821 reported in 2020 compared to 996 reports in 2021.
Also during the meeting, Any Craig was elected the chair of the Committee of the Whole, and Jason Bell was selected as the vice-chair.
Council members also selected Philips Brooks to serve as the presiding officer in the mayor’s absence.
Council members also tabled action on a request from a committee requesting a $25,000 donation from the city to erect an Edward T. Breathitt Jr. statue of the former Kentucky governor and Hopkinsville native on county property in front of the courthouse until Christian County Fiscal Court has heard the presentation and taken action.
