When it comes to crime, police will always be the first line of defense, but it never hurts to have some backup.
The resources Officer Ossel Harrison provides are why Jermane Neloms is sitting behind bars facing several serious charges.
Riviera Beach Police believe Neloms shot a man near silver beach road and avenue R on December 4.
The path to catching him began at police headquarters, in an area dubbed ‘Sky One,' starting with the shot spotter system.
“It triangulates the audio from the sound of a gunshot,” Harrison says. “Officers are dispatched to identify what happened.”
What you're hearing are the 12 rounds Neloms allegedly fired at his victim that night.
The victim was able to give police a description of the vehicle he was in and that's when the city's real time surveillance system came into play
It spotted a truck matching the description in the area minutes before the shooting.
“We were able to piece together the varying points from entry to exit as far as the how the truck traveled throughout our city,” Harrison says.
The city's license plate reader system furthered the investigation.
The reader was able to scan the plate on the truck Neloms was driving, leading them to the rental company he got it from - leading them to the alleged shooter.
It sounds like the future, but for this department it's the present.
“I kinda liken it to when DNA was discovered,” assistant chief Leonard Mitchell. “You can't get away from it. You cannot get away from our technology.”
The department's message to criminals - enter Rivera Beach at your own risk.
“We are letting you know we are going to aggressively pursue criminal behavior,” Mitchell says.
Officer Harrison agrees.
“You will be apprehended. And we have the resources to make that arrest possible.”
