Innovation. Accountability. Public Safety.

The Boynton Beach Police Department uses innovative technology and real-time information to enhance public safety while keeping our community informed. This includes advanced public safety technologies such as Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and the Drone First Responder (DFR) program, supported by trained detectives and professional staff across the department.

ALPRs at Work

BBPD's ALPR cameras automatically capture still images only; the department's ALPR system does not include video or live-view cameras. The system records details such as the plate number, date, time, location, and vehicle make, model, or other descriptive features. Plates may be compared against law enforcement databases and agency-specific lists of vehicles or plates of interest.

This is an example of the ALPR data that the Boynton Beach Police Department has access to. 
ALPR Image Example (NEW)

When a plate appears to match a vehicle or plate on a law enforcement hot list, the system generates an audible and/or visual alert for an officer or investigator. A law enforcement hot list is a list of missing or wanted individuals, vehicles, or other subjects that authorities are actively seeking or monitoring because they may be connected to ongoing investigations or wanted offenses. 

One example of how a hot list hit can assist officers occurred when a K-9 officer was on proactive patrol and they received an ALPR alert related to a vehicle reported stolen out of Broward County. Officers conducted a felony traffic stop and identified the driver as the suspect in the August 15 vehicle theft. The driver was taken into custody and charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle.

An alert is not automatically a confirmed match. Before taking enforcement action, officers must:

  1. Visually compare the alert with the vehicle and license plate image.
  2. Verify the information through applicable law enforcement databases.
  3. Confirm the information through central communications before taking action.

An unconfirmed ALPR alert alone cannot be the sole basis for stopping or detaining a vehicle.

How ALPR Supports Investigations

ALPRs assist law enforcement with a wide range of investigations, including violent crimes, missing persons, stolen vehicles, domestic violence, robberies, hit-and-runs, drug offenses, warrant apprehension, and other cases requiring the identification or location of vehicles of interest. ALPR information can also be used after an event to assist authorized investigations. Investigators may review ALPR records to determine whether and when a vehicle was detected at a particular location. Department-created custom hot lists may also be used to assist specific investigations.

The Boynton Beach Police Department currently has 39 Fixed ALPR cameras deployed. Additionally, all BBPD vehicles equipped with in-car cameras are also equipped with in-car license plate readers. Between June, July, and August 2026, the Boynton Beach Police Department conducted a total of 11,015 ALPR searches, which equates to an average of less than one search per user/per day. 

A detailed breakdown of the top 10 ALPR searches is provided below.
ALPR Top 10_NEW
* BBPD statistics will be updated on a quarterly basis.*

JuneJulyAugust_LPR Other Searches
* An additional 23 categories account for less than 1% of total use.*

Data Retention and Oversight

ALPR data is retained for 7 days, unless investigators or analysts specify otherwise. Access to the ALPR system has been limited primarily to sworn personnel, with designated professional staff, such as dispatch supervisors and Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) analysts, granted access based on their job responsibilities. Access is tiered according to job description and operational need, and personnel are required to complete training. ALPR use is also reviewed and audited to help ensure appropriate use and compliance with Department policy.

The Boynton Beach Police Department follows the audit process outlined below.

NEW ALPR Audit Graphic

The Boynton Beach Police Department continues to fine-tune and strengthen its Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program as technology evolves and best practices develop. As part of our ongoing commitment to responsible and effective use of this technology, the Department has recently implemented several changes to further enhance oversight, accountability, and appropriate access, including:

  • Statewide sharing only for ALPR data.
  • Reduced system access from 202 users to 171, a 15.35% reduction, limiting access to sworn personnel, with the exception of designated professional staff whose duties require access, such as dispatch supervisors and Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) analysts.
  • Narrowed search offense types to further limit the circumstances under which searches may be conducted.
  • Required case numbers for searches to provide an additional layer of accountability.
  • Required notes documenting the purpose or circumstances of searches.
  • Reduced data retention from 30 days to 7 days.
  • Expanded annual training to include a dedicated LPR training component.
  • Hotlist have been updated to limit data retention to 7 days.

These updates reflect the Department’s ongoing effort to balance the benefits of ALPR technology in supporting public safety with appropriate safeguards, accountability, and responsible use.

Drone Program

The Boynton Beach Police Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program uses drones to enhance public safety, improve situational awareness, and support officers and first responders during critical incidents. Drones may be deployed to:

  • Locate missing or endangered persons using aerial search capabilities and thermal imaging.
  • Support SWAT operations by providing aerial overwatch and improving officer safety.
  • Assist firefighters by identifying fire hotspots and providing an aerial view of emergency scenes.
  • Document major crash scenes, helping investigators while reducing roadway closure times.
  • Monitor large public events for safety concerns and developing emergencies.
  • Support K-9 searches by providing aerial views of wooded, concealed, or difficult-to-access areas.

Earlier this year, Bravo Shift Officers used a department-issued drone to locate a suspect linked to a string of construction site thefts in Boynton Beach and neighboring municipalities. The drone worked alongside Officers and K-9 Units to track and apprehend the suspect, leading to the recovery of an estimated $15,000 in stolen property.

See the footage below.


In August, the Boynton Beach Police Department’s Drone First Responder Program completed 364 flights, providing critical aerial support to emergency and public-safety operations.

  • 63.4% — Drones arrived first on scene, providing immediate aerial situational awareness.
  • 97.5% — Flights provided helpful intelligence to responding personnel.
  • 2.2% — Calls were cleared without requiring a patrol response, helping conserve department resources.
  • 7 — Drone operations contributed to arrests.
* BBPD statistics will be updated on a quarterly basis.*

These results demonstrate the program’s role in improving response capabilities, providing actionable information, and supporting safer, more efficient policing.

Oversight and Accountability

The program is overseen by a UAS Program Coordinator appointed by the Chief of Police, who is responsible for operator training, deployment procedures, equipment maintenance, flight documentation, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Operations are conducted in accordance with Florida Statute 934.50, FAA Part 107 regulations, and department policy.

Privacy protections are a fundamental component of the program. Drones are not used for general surveillance, routine patrol of areas where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, or to view or record private areas such as enclosed spaces or backyards without a warrant or other lawful exception. All missions are documented and subject to review to ensure accountability and continued compliance with law and department policy.

The UAS Program provides a modern public-safety resource that helps officers and first responders operate more safely, efficiently, and effectively while maintaining appropriate legal and privacy safeguards.

  • During the homicide investigation into the shooting death of Nigel Beckford, detectives determined that the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle after firing multiple rounds. Using LPR technology, detectives identified and located the suspect vehicle within approximately 15 minutes of the incident.

    Although the vehicle was unoccupied when officers arrived, the rapid LPR response provided detectives with a critical investigative lead and helped establish the suspect’s movements. Detectives continued to follow additional leads, ultimately identifying a second suspect vehicle and obtaining multiple search warrants.

    This case demonstrates how LPR technology can provide time-sensitive information that helps detectives quickly develop leads and advance complex investigations.

    Learn more about this case here.

  • LPR technology played a critical role in the homicide investigation of Jordan Scales, helping detectives exonerate an initially suspected individual by providing information that definitively ruled them out. With that lead eliminated, detectives were able to redirect their efforts toward the primary suspect, ultimately helping advance the investigation and resulting in an arrest.

    This case demonstrates how LPR technology can serve as both an investigative tool and an important safeguard—helping law enforcement identify those responsible while protecting innocent individuals from wrongful implication and conserving valuable time and resources.

    Learn more about this case here. 


  • Following a bank robbery at Chase Bank on North Congress Avenue, law enforcement utilized ALPR technology to locate the suspect vehicle and track its movements throughout Palm Beach County. The technology provided investigators with critical, real-time leads as they followed the vehicle’s movements and worked to identify the suspect.

    The stolen vehicle was ultimately located in Palm Beach, where 59-year-old Clifford Montague was taken into custody. Montague was positively identified as the bank robbery suspect and later confessed to the crime.

    This case demonstrates how ALPR technology can help law enforcement quickly locate suspects, follow critical investigative leads across jurisdictions, and bring cases to a successful resolution.

    Learn more about this case here. 

  • The drone was deployed in response to a reported dispute in The Meadows and arrived on scene prior to the arrival of ground units. Upon arrival, the drone observed a white sedan traveling through the parking lot with a female clinging to the vehicle from the door frame. As the vehicle traversed a curb, the female fell from the vehicle. The sedan continued out of the neighborhood, and the drone maintained visual contact while relaying the vehicle’s direction of travel and ongoing observations to responding officers. The initial drone footage proved extremely valuable to the subsequent investigation. The video, when combined with witness statements, provided corroborating evidence that supported the victim’s account of the incident and assisted investigators in establishing a clear sequence of events.

  • The drone was deployed for a physical fight in progress at City Hall. Upon arrival, officers pursued two fleeing suspects, apprehending one while the other remained outstanding. The drone quickly located the second suspect hiding behind a trailer and maintained visual contact, providing real-time location updates to responding officers. This aerial support enhanced situational awareness and helped coordinate the suspect’s apprehension. Both subjects were ultimately taken into custody.

  • The drone was deployed for a burglary in progress and arrived before ground units, providing an immediate aerial view. It located the suspect in the backyard and observed the suspect enter the residence through a window. The drone maintained visual surveillance and provided officers with real-time information on the suspect’s location and movements. This aerial overwatch enhanced situational awareness, supported an informed perimeter, and helped officers safely coordinate the suspect’s apprehension, contributing to a more efficient and controlled resolution.

  • What is ALPR, and is it a new technology? Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) is a proven public safety tool that law enforcement has used for more than 20 years. It provides critical investigative leads in situations where information is limited and time is of the essence, helping locate missing and endangered children, rescue trafficking and kidnapping victims, identify vehicles linked to violent crimes, and recover stolen vehicles.
  • Does ALPR continuously track my vehicle's movements? ALPR does not provide continuous video tracking of a vehicle. Instead, it captures a still photograph of a license plate when a vehicle passes a camera in a publicly accessible area. Each image includes the vehicle, its publicly displayed plate, and the date, time, and location — it does not identify the driver or occupants, nor does it show everywhere the vehicle has traveled.
  • Can someone be stopped or arrested based solely on an ALPR alert? An ALPR alert is only an investigative lead — it is not proof of a crime and does not by itself establish probable cause for an arrest. Officers must independently verify the alert and develop additional supporting facts before taking any enforcement action.
  • Does ALPR lead to unnecessary traffic stops? Actually, ALPR helps reduce unnecessary stops. Rather than relying on a general vehicle description — such as "dark sedan" — that could match hundreds of vehicles, ALPR allows officers to identify a specific plate, narrowing the search and helping avoid stopping drivers based only on broad characteristics.
  • Does ALPR give police access to information they couldn't otherwise obtain? ALPR simply automates a task officers have always lawfully performed — observing publicly displayed license plates and checking them against lists of stolen vehicles, active warrants, or vehicles tied to ongoing investigations. It does this more quickly and efficiently than manual entry.
  • Why does law enforcement share ALPR data across jurisdictions? Because criminal activity often crosses city and county lines, investigations must be able to follow. Responsible data sharing helps agencies connect related crimes, locate missing or trafficked individuals, and apprehend dangerous offenders. This sharing is limited to authorized law enforcement purposes and governed by consistent safeguards.
  • How long is ALPR data retained, and why? ALPR data is retained for a reasonable period because many serious crimes aren't reported immediately, and investigations can take time to develop. A vehicle's relevance to a case may not become clear until days, weeks, or even months later — if records are deleted too soon, valuable investigative leads could be permanently lost. The Boynton Beach Police Department's current retention policy is 7 days. 
  • Is ALPR use regulated, and does it violate Fourth Amendment privacy rights? ALPR use is regulated. Agencies operate under strict safeguards, including authorized access controls, documented queries, and searchable audit logs that track who accessed the system and why — helping detect and address any misuse. Additionally, courts nationwide, in over forty decisions, have consistently upheld that ordinary ALPR use does not violate the Fourth Amendment, since license plates are publicly displayed and ALPR does not track a person's overall movements in the way addressed in Carpenter v. United States.
  • What is the Drone First Responder (DFR) Program? The DFR Program allows the Boynton Beach Police Department to deploy drones in response to active calls for service, providing real-time aerial information to responding officers. This helps improve situational awareness, officer safety, and response times during emergencies.
  • When are drones deployed? Drones are deployed in response to specific calls for service, such as active crimes in progress, search and rescue operations, traffic crash investigations, and other emergency situations. Drones are not used for general surveillance or routine patrol of areas.
  • Who operates the drones, and what training do they receive? Drones are operated by trained personnel under the oversight of a UAS Program Coordinator appointed by the Chief of Police. Operators must complete certified training and comply with FAA Part 107 regulations, as well as department-specific policies on deployment and safe operation.
  • How does the program protect individual privacy? Privacy protections are a core component of the program. Drones are not used to view or record private areas — such as enclosed spaces or backyards — without a warrant or other lawful exception. All flights are conducted in accordance with Florida Statute 934.50 and are subject to strict usage guidelines.
  • Is drone footage recorded, and how is it stored? Yes, drone missions are documented, and footage may be retained in accordance with department policy and Florida's public records laws. All missions are subject to review to ensure accountability and continued compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
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