City of Buckeye
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The Buckeye Police Department is committed to providing public safety service the community expects and deserves. In our efforts to uphold the highest standards, the department strives to have the right tools, training and technology to safely resolve emergencies and investigate crime.
Buckeye police launched our Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program in 2022. The specific technology used by the Buckeye Police Department captures a photo of the back of a passing vehicle and compares the license plate number to active law enforcement alerts. ALPRs have effectively helped Buckeye police locate missing and vulnerable people, wanted persons and stolen vehicles. Investigators have also used the technology to develop leads in a variety of cases resulting in suspect arrests and justice for crime victims.
Buckeye police recognize community trust is essential to what we do. As the Department leverages this technology, we maintain strong oversight to ensure it is used in a manner that is ethical and constitutional. The Buckeye Police Department performs regular audits on the ALPR program and has enacted strict policies governing its use.
What Is an Automated License Plate Reader?Automated License Plate Readers in Buckeye have cameras mounted on poles installed along public roadways. ALPRs are placed in high-traffic areas considered to be main entries into our city including areas close to Interstate 10. An ALPR takes a snapshot of the back of a passing vehicle, capturing the image of the license plate, color, make and model, and unique details like stickers, aftermarket fixtures and damage. |
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How the Buckeye Police Department Uses ALPRs
ALPRs are part of the Buckeye Police Real Time Information Center (RTIC) which is a technology hub for public safety support. The RTIC also includes traffic cameras and cameras installed at City of Buckeye facilities and critical infrastructure. ALPRs have effectively helped Buckeye police locate missing and vulnerable people, wanted persons and stolen vehicles. Investigators have also used the technology to develop leads in a variety of cases resulting in suspect arrests and justice for crime victims.
Mayor Orsborn visits the Real Time Information Center
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Number of Flock ALPR Cameras |
Percentage of Plates Never Viewed |
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77 |
99.997% |
Cases resolved using ALPRs in Buckeye
Buckeye police have effectively used ALPRs to help locate missing and vulnerable people, wanted persons and stolen vehicles. Investigators have also used the technology to develop leads in a variety of cases resulting in suspect arrests and justice for crime victims. This list below includes some of the most high-profile cases resolved with assistance from ALPRs. A majority of these cases were shared with the community via Buckeye Police Department social media accounts and media partners.
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On July 5, 2025, officers responded to the area of Jackrabbit Trl and Indian School Rd to investigate an incident where a motorcycle rider shot at another rider during a group ride. The suspect ditched his motorcycle and ran from the scene before officers arrived. Some time later, the suspect was spotted in the area where he was picked up by someone driving an SUV. Officers attempted to pull over the driver, but the vehicle sped off. Using ALPRs, officers located the getaway vehicle in Glendale where they arrested the shooter on charges of attempted second-degree murder. |
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Buckeye police investigated a violent home invasion that occurred on December 14, 2024. During the incident, the suspects assaulted one of the home's occupants before leaving with stolen jewelry. Investigators developed information that the two suspects, a man and his stepson, were travelling between Arizona, Nevada, California and Texas. Investigators consulted ALPRs in their search. Weeks later, the suspects were located separately in Avondale and Dallas. They were indicted by a grand jury on charges of burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault charges. |
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On March 10, 2026, a woman reported that she was in a parking lot near Watson Rd and Sundance Ave when another driver began backing out of a spot, almost hitting her vehicle. After she honked her horn, the suspect got out of his vehicle, grabbed an AR-15 style rifle from his back seat and pointed it at her. The victim drove away and called 911. Officers consulted ALPRs in their search for the suspect who was located about two hours later in a nearby shopping center. He was arrested for disorderly conduct with a weapon, and officers seized the rifle. |
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Security footage from a local Circle K showed a man grabbing a fleeing woman and dragging her back to his vehicle on February 23, 2024. The video released by Buckeye police made national news and went viral on social media platforms. As part of the investigation, detectives viewed images captured by ALPRs. This analysis ultimately led investigators to the victim. The incident was determined to be a domestic violence incident. |
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On December 31, 2023, Buckeye police were called to investigate after the father of a 3-year-old boy failed to return the child to the mother. The 43-year-old suspect had taken the child days earlier and went on a crime spree, traveling out of state, burglarizing a home and stealing a car. He was later captured on video setting fire to someone’s air conditioner unit while holding the boy in his arms. Buckeye police were alerted when the stolen vehicle entered the city, but when officers tried to pull over the car, the suspect sped off, driving recklessly into oncoming traffic. Buckeye police alerted media partners and social media audiences, posting the actual image of the suspect's vehicle as it was captured on an ALPR. During the multi-jurisdiction investigation, Buckeye police requested assistance from the Phoenix Police Department. Officers there found the child uninjured, wandering a parking lot. |
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On April 21, 2026, Buckeye police responded to a shots fired call near Verrado Way and McDowell Rd. Witnesses reported seeing someone in a white pickup truck fire multiple rounds in a parking lot before taking off. During the investigation, detectives developed a suspect description. Then, utilizing ALPRs, investigators tracked down the white pickup truck days later near the Sundance golf course. The suspect was arrested for discharging a firearm in city limits. |
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Buckeye police received an alert from an ALPR on December 23, 2024, indicating a stolen vehicle had entered the city. Officers quickly located the vehicle, conducted a high-risk traffic stop and arrested the driver. During the investigation, officers learned the driver was a suspect in a carjacking in California where the victim was assaulted and hospitalized. |
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Buckeye police were contacted on December 19, 2025, after a man fired a gun during an argument with his wife and took off before officers arrived. Later that day, an ALPR alerted officers that the suspect vehicle had returned to the city. Officers worked to locate the vehicle and began circulating the victim's neighborhood in an attempt to intercept the suspect and protect the victim. The suspect ditched his car and tried to run away, but officers soon caught up with him. |
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Buckeye police responded to a report on July 24, 2024, that three teens at Buckeye Town Park were threatening to shoot people. The suspects took off before officers arrived. As part of the investigation, detectives utilized ALPRs and park cameras. The investigation led to the arrests of two 16-year-old suspects and one 17-year-old suspect. |
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On December 7, 2024, Buckeye police responded to a call of theft from a local firearms store on Watson Rd south of I-10. The caller reported that a customer grabbed a semi-automatic pistol from a counter and took off without paying for it. Officers developed information on a vehicle involved in the crime and determined the vehicle had passed by a license plate reader in the area around the time the theft occurred. A couple hours later, a license plate reader in the Tartesso area detected the vehicle. Officers responded, located the vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop. The suspect was arrested and the stolen gun recovered. |