In Washington, a suspect wanted for child molestation was quickly apprehended by police thanks to new technology. The suspect was believed to be in Grover Beach, and Commander Bryan Millard of the Grover Beach Police Department credited the license plate reader system with helping locate the suspect’s vehicle in the city. Officers were dispatched to 7th Street and Grand Avenue for a high-risk stop, where nearby construction workers witnessed the arrest taking place.
The license plate reader cameras installed in 2023 played a crucial role in the suspect’s apprehension, just one day after receiving notification from Ellensburg Police. Commander Millard highlighted the effectiveness of the technology, mentioning that it has already aided in solving several cases, including the recovery of stolen vehicles. Residents, like Marissa Zambo, expressed their support for the technology, recognizing its importance in catching criminals.
The Grover Beach Police Department is looking to further enhance its operations by potentially incorporating artificial intelligence and other technologies. Commander Millard mentioned plans for a real-time crime information center that would centralize various technologies for identifying trends. The city currently has 17 cameras installed in different locations, with half of them recently funded by a federal technology grant. The department is committed to leveraging technology to improve public safety and crime prevention efforts in the community.
