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Police chief recommends exploring license-plate recognition cameras for West Branch
Summary
Police Chief Greg Hall praised officer work that led to arrests and suggested the council consider license plate recognition (LPR) cameras, calling them costly but valuable for public safety; no council action was taken.
Police Chief Greg Hall gave an update on recent investigative work and recommended the council consider license plate recognition (LPR) cameras to aid investigations and public safety.
Chief Hall praised Sergeant Steen for her investigative skills that contributed to recent arrests and said the department is evaluating technology that could support investigations. He described LPR systems as "specialized cameras and software designed to capture, read, and process vehicle license plate information" and acknowledged that "they are expensive, but worth the money for public safety and helping solve crimes." The council did not take action on the suggestion during the meeting.
Councilors received the update; no formal policy change, procurement request, or vote was made at this session. The chief presented the cameras as an option for future consideration rather than a near-term purchase.
