How Local Police Departments are Adopting Surveillance Technology

Summary

• Police departments face growing pressure from staffing shortages, rising crime, and shrinking budgets.
• Agencies are turning to law enforcement surveillance equipment to extend visibility and improve efficiency.
• Real-world use cases include crowd monitoring, ALPR, crime deterrence, and off-grid surveillance.
• LVT’s mobile units offer flexible, GSA-approved solutions that meet real-world law enforcement needs.

‍

Local police departments are under a lot of pressure. Rising crime rates, shrinking budgets, and staffing shortages are forcing agencies across the country to rethink how they handle public safety. 

• Oakland is projected to spend $55 million this year to cover over 400,000 hours of overtime.
• Baltimore is asking for a $600 million police budget amid ongoing staffing shortages and rising overtime costs. 
• In San Francisco and Phoenix, departments are each missing over 400 officers, while Chicago lacks more than 1,300 and New York City more than 3,000.
• Los Angeles projects a loss of 150 officers by mid‑2026, leaving the LAPD at its lowest staffing in 30 years during preparations for international events like the Olympics and World Cup 
• The 2024 State of Recruitment and Retention survey revealed that 70% of law enforcement agencies report recruiting is harder now than five years ago.

With fewer officers and more responsibility, agencies are being forced to rethink how they monitor public spaces, respond to incidents, and investigate crimes.

Why Police Departments Are Turning to Surveillance Technologies

Instead of trying to stretch thin resources further, departments are using law enforcement surveillance equipment to: 

• Cover more ground without more patrols: Monitor high-traffic and hard-to-reach areas without pulling officers off the street.
• Respond faster and safer: Real-time footage and instant alerts give dispatch and field units context before they intervene in potentially dangerous situations.
• Adapt quickly to changing threats: Mobile units can be deployed or relocated based on crime trends, public events, or community concerns.

5 Ways Law Enforcement Surveillance Equipment is Used

There are a lot of different ways departments are using surveillance technologies, depending on their needs, priorities, and resources. Here are some of the most common use cases. 

1. Crowd Monitoring at Public Events

Concerts. Parades. Political rallies. County fairs. Sports games. Any time large groups gather, the potential for disorder increases. In the past, the only solution was to pull officers from their usual patrols to help monitor the event. 

Now, departments are deploying mobile surveillance units to take over some of that load. With 360-degree visibility, motion alerts, and live remote access, these systems let one officer—or even a trained civilian—monitor thousands of people at once, and even intervene if someone at the event exhibits unwanted behavior. 

2. Reducing Crime Through High-Visibility Presence

Some spaces inherently attract crime: parking lots, vacant buildings, dark alleyways. Police know where these areas are, but they don’t usually have the resources to station officers at every hotspot around the clock. 

Mobile law enforcement surveillance equipment offers a low-lift way to maintain a visible presence without making officers physically sit and watch a site. Units with flashing lights, loudspeakers, and obvious cameras are often enough to prevent unwanted behavior in locations that don’t justify constant staffing but still need oversight.

3. Reading License Plates

License plates are one of the most powerful data points in law enforcement. They help identify stolen vehicles, track suspects, and connect incidents across jurisdictions. So, it’s no surprise that automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) has become one of the most practical tools for police teams. 

Modern surveillance units often come with built-in ALPR capabilities. This means departments can receive alerts when a flagged plate is detected and log searchable data for future investigations. It's a low-effort, high-impact way to expand coverage in zones known for vehicle-related crimes.

4. Gathering Video Evidence for Criminal Investigations

It’s hard to argue with video evidence. Clear footage can play a key role in moving investigations forward, supporting warrants, and strengthening prosecutions. Departments using modern surveillance technologies don’t have to rely on fuzzy witness memories or hope that a nearby business captured some usable footage. Instead, they can log into their video management system, find the relevant clip, and send it straight to investigators or prosecutors. 

5. Maintaining Visibility in Off-Grid Areas

Unfortunately, crime doesn’t only happen where there is an easy, reliable connection to infrastructure. Infrastructure shouldn’t determine safety coverage, but in many rural or under-resourced areas, it does. 

Solar-powered surveillance units help close that gap. Agencies can place them anywhere—campgrounds, fairgrounds, back roads, etc.—without needing permanent wiring or a connection to the grid. And because they’re battery-backed and designed to withstand tough conditions, they keep running even when weather or blackouts shut other systems down. 

Multiply Boots on the Ground with LVT

LVT’s mobile surveillance units are used by law enforcement departments across the country for everything from crowd monitoring to gathering video evidence that supports criminal investigations. They're durable, flexible, and even GSA-approved, making it easier for government agencies to get them into the field without added procurement headaches.

If you want to learn how our law enforcement surveillance equipment can make a difference for your department, watch a demo today.