Category: Guardian Shield

Guardian Shield Graphic With Police Vehicle

Mt. Juliet Guardian Shield ALPR Program Surpasses 100 Successful Interceptions since Start of Program

February 25, 2021

Mt. Juliet, Tenn – Mt. Juliet’s Guardian Shield Automated License Plate Recognition program has surpassed 100 successful interceptions since the start of the program on April 1, 2020. In total, off the initial alert, 57 stolen cars, 30 stolen license plates, and two stolen trailers have been recovered. Guardian Shield also alerted officers to 11 wanted persons and one missing juvenile, who were also recovered, including a TBI Most Wanted murder suspect and a murder suspect from Louisiana. 

Those initial alerts and investigations led to an additional 25 wanted persons, four stolen guns, four stolen cars operating with stolen plates, 30 incidents involving drugs, 21 driver’s license violations, two stolen plates, and missing juvenile.

Top interceptions include:

  • 4/15/2020 – An adult from Antioch was arrested on a warrant for Felony Aggravated Robbery (armed) out of Clarksville, TN after Guardian Shield alerted officers to his vehicle. After following, officers took him into custody when he parked his car at a home off Hobson Pk.
  • 4/28/2020 – Guardian Shield was used to assist in the capture of a murder suspect from Louisiana, located at a local hotel. THP ultimately made the arrest, but it was a group effort. After being notified by Louisiana that the suspect was in TN, the system was queried and confirmed he was in the city. 
  • 7/17/2020 – Guardian Shield alerted officers to an SUV known to be operated by a most wanted fugitive. Officers intercepted the vehicle on Mt. Juliet Rd near Lebanon Rd. The fugitive was wanted by Springfield PD & TN Bureau of Investigation for 1st Degree Murder, was apprehended.
  • 8/3/2020 – Guardian Shield alerted officers to a 2007 Mercury Mountaineer stolen from Nashville on 7/21 during an armed robbery. Officers intercepted the vehicle on Lebanon Rd near Park Glen. 2 adult males & 2 adult females were apprehended, & they had meth, heroin, & LSD.
  • 8/17/2020 – Guardian Shield alerted officers to a 2019 Ford F350 pick-up stolen from Texas on 7/30/2020. Officers intercepted the vehicle on N Mt Juliet Rd near Woodridge Pl. 1 adult male, also a fugitive from justice for felony fraud out of Texas was apprehended.
  • 1/8/2021 – Guardian Shield alerted officers to a Toyota Prius stolen during an armed carjacking in Nashville on 1/6. Officers intercepted the vehicle on MJ Rd near Division St & deployed spikes. After a short, low-speed pursuit, an adult male surrendered & was arrested.
  • 1/17/2021 – Guardian Shield alerted officers to a license plate associated with a Clarksville wanted person. Officers intercepted the vehicle near Lebanon Rd & Medearis Dr. A 46-year-old male was apprehended on Aggravated Armed Robbery & Theft warrants.
  • 2/13/2021 – Guardian Shield alerted officers to a ’16 Honda CRV stolen from Nashville on 1/25. Officers intercepted the vehicle on Mt. Juliet Rd near Division St. After an attempted box, the driver fled, quickly blew a tire, & officers pursued to Sante Fe Trl near Lebanon Rd.

While impossible to track what crime has been prevented, the main priority the department deployed an ALPR program was to tackle the growing number of vehicle theft and vehicle burglary incidents in the community. The overwhelming majority of the suspects in those incidents were using stolen cars from Nashville as a mode of transportation to commit the crime sprees. After the implementation of Guardian Shield, Mt. Juliet’s vehicle theft is down 36%, and vehicle burglaries are down 48% when reviewing data from the last six months of 2019 to the last six months of 2020. 

Not all alerts result in a successful interception, but officers ensure the alerted criminal activity is no longer active within the community. Typically, in those circumstances, a criminal-activity-involved hotlisted license plate enters the community and quickly exits, or officers find the vehicle, and the driver flees. 

To learn more about Mt. Juliet’s Guardian Shield program, you can visit this link: http://mjpd.org/1561/Guardian-Shield-ALPR .

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Booking Photos of 2 Arrestees in Stolen Car

Guardian Shield Alerts on Stolen Car from Lebanon; Officers Arrest Two

March 26, 2020

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers intercepted a wanted person, driving a stolen car, after the department’s Guardian Shield ALPR alerted on a plate associated with the stolen car. Around 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2020, officers began to look for a black, 2019 Ford Escape after Guardian Shield alerted on the tag as it crossed through the N. Mt. Juliet Road and Lebanon Road intersection. The vehicle was intercepted by officers on Mt. Juliet Road near Old Lebanon Dirt Road, and after it stopped in the Valley Center parking lot, suspects ran from the SUV. They were quickly apprehended, and two suspects were charged.

Further investigation revealed the car was reported stolen out of Lebanon on February 28, 2020. 34-year-old Michael Cousino of Watertown was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Theft of Property, Evading Arrest, and Driving Without a License. 36-year-old Julia Ash of Lebanon was also arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Theft of Property and Evading Arrest.

Booking Photo of 34-year-old Michael Cousino of Watertown

34-year-old Michael Cousino of Watertown

Booking Photo of 36-year-old Julia Ash of Lebanon

36-year-old Julia Ash of Lebanon

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Booking Photo w/ Stolen Car

Guardian Shield Alerts on Stolen Car; Officers Find Meth & Wanted Person out of Knoxville Area

March 18, 2020

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers intercepted a wanted person, driving a stolen car, after the department’s Guardian Shield ALPR alerted on a plate associated with the stolen car. Around 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2020, officers began to look for a silver 1997 Mazda 626 after Guardian Shield alerted on the tag as it crossed through the N. Mt. Juliet Road and Interstate 40 interchange. The vehicle was intercepted by officers in the Arby’s parking lot, and the driver, 25-year-old Andrea Ledbetter of Maryville, was found to be wanted by the Blount County Sherriff’s Office for multiple felony, drug-related warrants. Ledbetter was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Photo of Stolen Car

Booking photo of 25-year-old Andrea Ledbetter of Maryville

Andrea Ledbetter, 25, of Maryville

Further investigation revealed the car was reported stolen out of Athens, about 154 miles away from Mt. Juliet, on March 15, 2020. Ledbetter was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Theft of Property, Simple Possession of Methamphetamine, and Drug Paraphernalia.

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Guardian Shield Alerts on Stolen Car; Officers Find Wanted Person out of Chattanooga Area

February 27, 2020

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers intercepted a wanted person, driving a stolen car, after the department’s Guardian Shield ALPR alerted on a plate associated with the stolen car. Around 12:18 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2020, officers began to look for a silver 2010 Hyundai Sonata after Guardian Shield alerted on the tag as it crossed through the Lebanon Road and N. Greenhill Road intersection. The vehicle was intercepted by officers on Lebanon Road near N. Mt. Juliet Road, and the driver, 46-year-old John Byung Joon Lyu of Ooletewah, was found to be wanted by the Collegedale, TN Police Department for Theft of a Motor Vehicle.

Stolen Car Stop Scene
Stolen Car Scene w/ Suspect

Further investigation revealed the car was reported stolen out of Collegedale, about 147 miles away from Mt. Juliet, on February 2, 2020. Lyu was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail until he is transferred to Collegedale for the theft charge.

Booking Photo of Suspect
John Byung Joon Lyu, 46, of Ooletewah
Booking Photo of McCreery & Stopped Vehicle

Guardian Shield Alerts on Stolen Maryland License Plate; Officers Find Fugitive From Justice Wanted From Two States

February 19, 2020

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers intercepted a wanted fugitive from justice, driving an overdue rental SUV, after the department’s Guardian Shield ALPR alerted on a stolen Maryland license plate. Around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, officers began to look for a blue Infiniti QX50 SUV after Guardian Shield alerted on the tag as it crossed through the Lebanon Road and N. Greenhill Road intersection. The vehicle was intercepted by officers as it pulled into the post office, and the driver, 31-year-old Christopher McCreery of North Carolina, was found to be a fugitive from justice out of Louisiana and North Carolina.

Scene of Officer & Stopped Vehicle Scene of Officer & Stopped Vehicle

Further investigation revealed the Maryland license plate was reported stolen out of Washington, D.C. on November 22, 2019, and the Infiniti was an overdue rental car. McCreery was wanted out of Louisiana for a full-extradition, felony parole violation related to felony drug charges, and he was also wanted out of North Carolina for a probation violation related to weapon possession.

Booking Photo of Christopher McCreery

Christopher McCreery, 31, of North Carolina

McCreery was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with the following:

  • Use of a Stolen Plate
  • Possession of a Schedule I Drug
  • Fugitive From Justice – Awaiting Extradition to Louisiana

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Adams Booking Photo and Crash Scene

Guardian Shield Alerts on Stolen SUV; Officers Arrest Felon After Crashing into Home

February 11, 2020

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers intercepted a wanted, convicted felon driving a stolen SUV after the department’s Guardian Shield ALPR alerted on the vehicle. Around 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, officers began to look for a black Toyota Highlander SUV after Guardian Shield alerted on the tag as it crossed through the Lebanon Road and N. Greenhill Road intersection. The vehicle was spotted by officers on N. Mt. Juliet Road near Interstate 40, and the driver, identified as 47-year-old Glen Adams, began his attempt to evade officers. Adams continued to evade to Central Pike near Pleasant Grove Road, where he lost control of the SUV and crashed into an unoccupied home.

SUV Crashed into side of Home

Following the crash, officers began their work to ensure no residents were in the home and contain Adams. Officers successfully cleared the house, turned off a ruptured natural gas line, and confirmed that Adams remained inside the SUV. With the home’s structure unstable, the department executed a plan with responders from Mt. Juliet Fire and Wilson EMA to ensure Adams was removed from the SUV and taken into custody with the utmost care.

SUV Crashed into side of HomeAdams was successfully removed from the SUV and transported to a local ER for evaluation. He has since been released and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with the following:

  • Theft of Property
  • Driving Under the Influence – 3rd Offense
  • Evading Arrest
  • Reckless Endangerment
  • Reckless Driving
  • Driving on a Revoked Drivers License – 2nd Offense
  • Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Booking Photo of Glen Adams

Glen Adams, 47, of Old Hickory

Adams allegedly stole the Toyota Highlander SUV while it was unlocked and running at an Exxon in Murfreesboro on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. He was wanted out of Sumner and Wilson County for charges related to felony theft and illegal drug activity. Also, he is a convicted felon of voluntary manslaughter and numerous drug charges.

“It is unclear why Adams was in Mt. Juliet and over 35 miles from where the SUV was stolen, but I’m glad that technology was able to alert our officers to his presence. Guardian Shield continues to make us aware of dangerous individuals who have committed serious crimes far from our community,” stated Chief James Hambrick.

The investigation is on-going, and detectives are coordinating with agencies across the region in regards to Adam’s activities.

 

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Rekor OpenALPR Interface on Computer Screen

Rekor Systems selected for Mt. Juliet’s Guardian Shield Automated License Plate Recognition Program

January 8, 2020

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The City of Mt. Juliet and Mt. Juliet Police Department selected Rekor Systems, Inc. to roll-out the community’s Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program, which the department is terming as “Guardian Shield.” The Guardian Shield program was initiated to enhance the community’s safety by providing the department an additional tool to further guard and shield Mt. Juliet’s residents and visitors from criminals who enter the city to cause harm.

Before selecting Rekor Systems, the department and I.T. professionals conducted testing and an extensive review of Rekor and other leading license plate recognition systems. The Rekor Systems product performed the best and has strong security protections in place to protect the video collected. A hit, generated from the Rekor product, also led to the successful apprehension of an armed and dangerous wanted person.

“Our number one priority is maintaining the safety of our community, and we are always looking for robust tools and technologies that can help us to do so. Rekor’s Edge and Watchman vehicle recognition technology provided better results than its competition during our trial period. Importantly, it proved its value immediately during testing by helping us to catch a wanted fugitive and take a dangerous man off the streets,” said Police Chief James Hambrick. “With higher accuracy than other providers, as well as the ability to affordably scale, Rekor’s solutions fit the needs of our department both now and for the future. We look forward to working with Rekor to make Mt. Juliet and the surrounding communities a safer place.”

Rekor OpenALPR Interface on Computer Screen

The Guardian Shield ALPR program will not be used for anything traffic enforcement related, and it will only be used to guard and shield the community from vehicles attached to a hotlist or investigate crimes, such as criminal homicide, forcible rape, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft, dangerous drug offenses, or a wanted person. In addition, the technology records video and images of the vehicle, which is only kept for a period of 30-days. The technology does not track who is driving or who is in the car. More importantly, the system does not access the Department of Safety’s license plate database, so there is no way to access personal data or determine who owns the vehicle.

Thirty-seven locations for fixed-cameras were identified throughout the city that would provide the best possible coverage to guard the entire Mt. Juliet community. Rekor Systems will support the cameras for near $89,000 a year, pending successful contract negotiations and final approval.

Rekor Systems, Inc’s Message: Rekor’s Vehicle Recognition Solutions Selected by Mt. Juliet Tennessee Police Department to Increase Public Safety After Successful Test Caught Wanted Fugitive

Previous News: Mt. Juliet Police Release Proposal, Identify Potential Locations For License Plate Recognition Program to Alert on Wanted Persons, Stolen Vehicles, & Vehicles Used in Serious Crimes

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Officers Searching Vehicle Used in Theft Crime

Mt. Juliet Police Release Proposal, Identify Potential Locations For License Plate Recognition Program to Alert on Wanted Persons, Stolen Vehicles, & Vehicles Used in Serious Crimes

November 27, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A request for proposal was released today by the City of Mt. Juliet Information Technology (I.T.) department to identify a vendor who will provide Mt. Juliet Police Department’s Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program. When complete, the ALPR program will not be used for anything traffic enforcement related. It will solely alert Mt. Juliet Police officers on vehicles listed on a Hotlist or investigate crimes, such as criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft, dangerous drugs, or a wanted person. License plate data captured by the ALPR program can only be retained for 90 days per state law. However, the department will only keep data for 30 days per internal policy unless it is data associated with a criminal investigation.

“Ultimately, our department wants to protect our community from criminals who come into our city to victimize our residents and visitors, stated Police Chief James Hambrick. “Many of the criminals use stolen vehicles or vehicles that have been used in serious crimes as a mode of transportation to travel into our city. The ALPR program will alert us to their presence so they can be apprehended before victimizing someone in our community. We cannot nor do we have the desire to use the cameras for automated traffic enforcement to catch motorists running red lights or speeding.”

After the city allocated $100,000 in funding to support the program this fiscal year, beginning in July, the department and I.T. professionals began to evaluate the different technology associated with ALPR programs. During the process, 37 locations were identified throughout the city as potential locations for an ALPR system so that the prospective vendor could provide an approximate cost for the overall program. Those locations were identified because they give the best possible coverage to protect the entire Mt. Juliet community.

The department tested a single ALPR site for around 60 days, which led to the discovery of stolen vehicles and wanted persons who were apprehended. In one instance, officers pursued a stolen vehicle that was occupied by four teenagers, back into Nashville before the pursuit was terminated due to dangerous speeds.

A vendor will be selected after proposals are received on December 17, 2019.

List of proposed locations:

   Sites Proposed ALPR Locations Direction of camera
1 Nonaville Rd / Saundersville Rd South
2 North Green Hill / at Green Hill High South
3 North Green Hill / at Lebanon Rd East
4 Lebanon Rd / Matterhorn East
5 Lebanon Rd / Matterhorn West
6 West Division St / County Line East
7 West Division St / County Line West
8 Old Lebanon Dirt Rd / County Line East
9 Old Lebanon Dirt Rd / County Line West
10 Central Pike / Chandler Rd East
11 Central Pike / John Hagar Rd East
12 Central Pike / Adams Lane West
13 Central Pike / S. Mt. Juliet Rd South
14 Central Pike / S. Mt. Juliet Rd East
15 Central Pike / S. Mt. Juliet Rd North
16 South Rutland Rd. / City Limits (South of Baird Farms Construction Entrance) North
17 Central Pike / Walton’s Grove Subdivision West
18 Posey Hill Rd / Beckwith Rd West
19 Wilfong Pkwy / Beckwith Rd South
20 Golden Bear / Rutland Dr North
21 East Division / Golden Bear West
22 East Division / Golden Bear East
23 I-40 / North Mt. Juliet Rd North
24 South Mt. Juliet Rd / Herschel Dr. South
25 Belinda Parkway / Providence Trail East
26 North Mt. Juliet Rd / Pleasant Grove Rd North
27 North Mt. Juliet Rd / Pleasant Grove Rd South
28 North Mt. Juliet Rd / West Division North
29 North Mt. Juliet Rd / East Division East
30 North Mt. Juliet Rd / East Division South
31 North Mt. Juliet Rd. / West Division West
32 North Mt. Juliet Rd. / Lebanon Rd East
33 North Mt. Juliet Rd. / Lebanon Rd South
34 North Mt Juliet Rd. / Lebanon Rd West
35 Lebanon Rd / Terrace Hill Rd East
36 Lebanon Rd / Terrace Hill Rd West
37 Charlie Daniels Park Entrance Entrance

A copy of the Request for Proposal can be found here: Request for Proposal.

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