One of the things that makes Key Biscayne special is the sense of safety, peace, and community we enjoy every day. Whether it’s families walking to school, residents biking through our neighborhoods, or neighbors gathering at our parks and beaches, people come to Key Biscayne for its exceptional quality of life. Equally importantly, they choose to stay because they feel safe, connected, and secure.
Protecting that quality of life is, and always will be, our highest priority.
Recently, there have been questions about the Village’s License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras. I would like to explain why this technology is an important public safety tool and how we are committed to using it responsibly.
Our mission is simple: to keep Key Biscayne safe and secure. LPR cameras help officers identify vehicles associated with serious crimes, stolen vehicles, missing persons, and other legitimate law enforcement concerns. It allows officers to respond more quickly and effectively while minimizing disruptions to residents.
Since deploying LPR cameras throughout the Village, we have seen a significant reduction in crime, particularly vehicle-related offenses, drug-related crimes, and incidents involving individuals entering our community with harmful intent. The system helps officers identify vehicles connected to criminal activity within seconds, allowing them to act quickly when needed.
At the same time, we recognize that any technology must be used responsibly. Public safety and personal privacy are both important, which is why strong policies, oversight, and accountability are essential.
Recently, the Police Department strengthened its LPR policies and audit procedures. Officers are now required to enter a specific and legitimate law enforcement reason before conducting a search. Every search is logged and subject to review, helping ensure the system is used appropriately and only for authorized purposes.
It is also important to understand what this technology does not do. LPR cameras do not record faces, identify individuals, monitor personal activities, or track driver behavior. They simply capture license plate information. Data is retained for a limited period and used only for legitimate public safety purposes. It is not used for traffic enforcement, immigration enforcement or shared with private companies.
We welcome questions and value community input. As technology continues to evolve, you can count on us to regularly review our policies, strengthen safeguards when needed, and ensure these tools are used in a way that protects both public safety and privacy.
Our commitment remains unchanged: preserving the safe, peaceful, and welcoming community that makes Key Biscayne such a special place to call home.
Thank you for your continued trust and partnership as we work together to keep our island paradise safe and secure.
Stay safe,
Chief Francis J. Sousa
Key Biscayne Police Department