How AI Video Search Helps Law Enforcement Find Leads Faster

How Flock FreeForm AI Video Search Helps Law Enforcement Surface Leads

Investigations rarely begin with perfect information.

Sometimes all an investigator has is:

• Vehicle color
• Direction of travel
• Clothing Description
• Incomplete witness account

The challenge is not a lack of footage, it’s finding the right evidence quickly enough to move the case forward.

That’s where Flock FreeForm helps.

FreeForm gives law enforcement agencies a faster way to search video and license plate reader (LPR) evidence using natural-language descriptions instead of relying only on rigid filters or exact matches.As a result, agencies can spend less time reviewing footage, access relevant evidence faster, and work through clearer investigative workflows.

What Is Flock FreeForm?

Flock FreeForm is a natural-language search tool designed for investigators, RTCC operators, and patrol teams. Instead of depending on exact filter matches or manual review, investigators can search video and LPR evidence together using the same kind of language witnesses use in interviews and calls -- "dark SUV with rear bumper damage" or "man in blue hoodie entering parking lot."

FreeForm surfaces relevant visual matches across enabled video and LPR footage, helping agencies move from partial information to workable leads faster.

Why Traditional Video Search Tools Slow Investigations Down

Many investigations begin with incomplete or imperfect information. But traditional video search systems are often built around exact filters and manual review workflows.

That creates friction when:

• Witnesses provide incomplete descriptions.
• Plates are missing or unreadable.
• Multiple systems need to be searched separately.
• Investigators must manually review large volumes of footage.
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As camera networks grow, the operational challenge often becomes finding relevant evidence quickly enough to support the investigation. FreeForm helps reduce that friction by giving investigators a more flexible way to search.

See What Faster Investigations Look Like

When investigators can search video and LPR evidence quickly, they can move before a suspect, vehicle, or stolen property leaves the area.

In this case, FreeForm helped investigators surface relevant evidence faster and support a stolen-property investigation before the property left the jurisdiction.

FreeForm helps investigators move from partial details to actionable leads faster using natural-language search across video and LPR evidence.

How FreeForm Helps Investigators Work Faster

Search Using Natural Language allows Investigators using search using the kinds of descriptions people naturally provide during interviews, calls, or reports. Instead of forcing information into rigid categories, FreeForm helps teams start with what they know and narrow results from there. This can help surface relevant leads faster when investigators have limited time or visibility.

Search Video and LPR Evidence Together

FreeForm brings video and LPR evidence into one workflow. Instead of searching video and LPR evidence separately, investigators can review vehicle results, video matches, alerts, and related evidence in one interface. That can help reduce manual review time and improve investigative coordination across teams.

Search Beyond a Single Camera Network

When authorized by agency policy and partner permissions, agencies can search shared camera footage made available by participating partner agencies. This can help investigators develop leads across jurisdictions, identify relevant vehicle movement patterns, and review evidence beyond their own camera network. Access remains permission-based, agency-controlled, and subject to local policies.

Receive Alerts When Relevant Matches Appear

When configured on enabled systems, FreeForm can notify investigators when relevant matches appear for review. This helps teams assess potential leads without requiring continuous manual monitoring of camera feeds.

FreeForm Is Not Facial Recognition

FreeForm does not use facial recognition or person recognition. Searches involving people are based on observable visual characteristics captured on enabled video feeds, such as clothing, visible accessories, direction of travel, or vehicles visible in the same footage. FreeForm is not designed to identify a specific person. That distinction matters. Public safety technology should support investigations while remaining accountable, reviewable, and transparent about how systems work.

Built-In Accountability and Reviewability

FreeForm is designed to support accountability and reviewability through controls such as audit logs, permission-based access, and search history. These controls help agencies review searches, manage access, and support responsible use. Because every agency operates differently, local control and reviewability matter.

Who Uses FreeForm?

FreeForm is designed to support law enforcement and public-sector safety teams, including investigators, patrol, RTCC teams, analysts, command staff, multi-agency operations, campus safety, transit security, healthcare security, and other public-sector investigative environments where video evidence plays a critical role.

A Faster Way to Surface Relevant Evidence

The goal of FreeForm is not to replace investigators. It’s to help teams:

• Spend less time searching
• Reduce manual footage review
• Surface relevant evidence faster

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In many investigations, the challenge is not whether evidence exists, but whether teams can find it quickly enough to support the next step.

Frequently Asked Questions About Flock FreeForm

What is Flock FreeForm?

Flock FreeForm is a natural-language search tool that helps law enforcement search video and LPR evidence in one workflow. 

Does FreeForm use facial recognition?

FreeForm does not use facial recognition. When it comes to people searches, the system works from visible, non-biometric characteristics captured on enabled video feeds like clothing or accessories. 

What can investigators search with FreeForm?

Investigators can use plain-language descriptions to search for details such as vehicles, clothing, visible accessories, direction of travel, and related evidence across enabled systems. 

How do agencies control access to FreeForm?

FreeForm is designed to support accountability and reviewability through controls such as permission-based access, audit logs, and search history. 

‍How does Flock FreeForm help law enforcement search video evidence faster?

Flock FreeForm lets investigators search enabled video and LPR evidence using natural-language descriptions instead of only rigid filters or manual footage review. Investigators can start with partial details, such as a vehicle color, clothing description, direction of travel, or visible damage, and review relevant matches in one workflow.

Can Flock FreeForm search video and license plate reader evidence together?

Yes. FreeForm brings video and LPR evidence into a single investigative workflow so teams can review vehicle results, video matches, alerts, and related evidence without switching between disconnected systems. This can help reduce manual review time and improve coordination across investigative teams.

Does Flock FreeForm use facial recognition?

No. Flock FreeForm does not use facial recognition or person recognition. People search is built on what's visually observable in enabled video -- clothing, accessories, movement, associated vehicles -- not on biometric identification.

What accountability controls are included with Flock FreeForm?

Flock FreeForm includes audit logs, permission-based access, search history, and moderation tools. These controls help agencies manage access, review searches, and support responsible use while maintaining local control over authorized systems and shared footage.

See How FreeForm Works

Learn more about Flock FreeForm and how law enforcement agencies use it to search video and LPR evidence with natural-language descriptions, configurable alerts, and reviewability controls.