Leading Cancer Center Sees Spike in Crime Prompting Action
Implementing a Virtual Security Perimeter With Flock Safety Falcon® LPR Cameras
Memphis, Tennessee | West Cancer Center is a prominent leader in adult cancer care and research with a legacy of four decades dedicated to oncology.
The center was facing a growing challenge of increased criminal activity on its premises, primarily in its parking lots. These issues included car thefts, break-ins, and acts of vandalism – raising concerns among administrators about the safety of staff and patients.
The uptick in crime in West Cancer Center’s parking lot led to concerns among administrators regarding clinical staff and patient safety while on the premises.
Although the center already had an unarmed guard and surveillance cameras, the need to enhance security became evident. Administrators began searching for effective solutions to keep patients and staff safe.
Following conversations with local law enforcement and recommendations from the mayor, West Cancer Center identified Flock Safety Falcon® License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras as a clear solution to their security concerns.
LPR cameras offered the capability to monitor all incoming and outgoing vehicles in the parking lots, allowing for crime deterrence and the ability to gain crucial evidence in case of any incidents.
Ultimately, the Center deployed Flock Safety Falcon® LPR cameras around the perimeter of the property to ensure coverage of all vehicles entering and exiting.
That's what the local law enforcement uses. And they recommended it. And so we just thought, that's just a no-brainer.
– Valerie Beeler, Director of Administrative Services
While the benefits of Flock Safety Falcon® LPR cameras were clear, the executive team did express some concerns that there would be an uptick in law enforcement presence, causing distress among patients and their families.
To address these concerns, the Center worked with law enforcement to develop a response plan that would not alarm patients and families should there be any known offenders in their parking lot. This approach allowed for a balance between security and privacy.
Prior to the installation of Flock Safety’s Falcon® LPR cameras, West Cancer Center encountered attempted crimes almost every other week. Since deploying the LPR perimeter, the facility has experienced a 100% reduction in property crime – with no attempted car thefts or break-ins reported in their parking lot.
The introduction of LPR cameras had an additional positive impact on staff safety. When an employee shared concerns about a domestic violence situation, the administration gave them the option to place the vehicle on a Flock custom Hot List so that security could be alerted and take appropriate action if the person’s vehicle entered West Cancer Center’s parking lot. Upon learning about this capability, the employee noted they appreciated the proactive efforts from the administration to keep them safe. This added layer of security ensures the safety of employees in the event that a threatening vehicle arrives on the premises.
Flock Safety’s Falcon® LPR cameras also proved valuable when a patient’s car was hit in the parking lot while they were inside receiving treatment. The driver had fled the scene, leaving the patient frustrated and distressed. Fortunately, the West Cancer Center team was able to help the patient quickly identify the offender’s vehicle using data from Flock’s Falcon® cameras. The patient was grateful for the help as they now had enough vehicle information to file a police report.
Since we implemented Flock, we have had not one single…attempt at a car theft, attempt at a car break-in, nothing. And…before that, it was every other week.
– Valerie Beeler, Director of Administrative Services
Flock Safety Falcon® LPR cameras provide proactive security to deter crime at West Cancer Center while preserving patient privacy. The unobtrusive design of the cameras prevents undue fear, allowing West Cancer Center to effectively pursue its mission to improve quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care for all patients for years to come.