The Dallas Police Department, Safer Dallas and Motorola held a press conference to talk about a new crime fighting initiative called “Starlight” on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ferguson Food Mart and Texaco Gas Station located at 11770 Ferguson Road in Dallas.

There was a demonstration on how a state-of-the-art software and camera system will help the Dallas Police Department prevent crimes from occurring at businesses such as retail outlets, convenience stores and gas stations. With Motorola’s ingenuity, police officers at headquarters will be able to see in real time exactly what is happening at establishments that will be using the technology. The officers can immediately dispatch a patrol unit to the scene. Keep in mind, the software embedded in the system has the ability to recognize anomalies that might indicate a crime in progress, such as a camera being covered or tampered with, sudden movements by individuals in view of the camera, etc. This too, would notify personnel that a crime may be in progress, creating a “virtual patrol.” The technology will help keep officers safe because they will know ahead of time what to expect before arriving at a potential crime scene.

The following stores are a part of the launch:

• 7-Eleven, 2911 E. Ledbetter Road – Council Member Carolyn Arnold’s District 4
• 7-Eleven, 2503 Lemmon Avenue – Council Member David Blewett’s District 14
• Ferguson Food Mart and Texaco Gas Station – Council Member Paula Blackmon’s District 9

Each store is equipped with cameras, signage and a blue light. The blue light indicates that the establishment is protected and monitored by the Dallas Police Department in real time. These stores receive a high volume of calls for police services and are ideal for the program.

This pilot program is made possible by Safer Dallas and Motorola.

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