Council asks staff to draft pawn‑broker reporting ordinance using LeadsOnline

The Leitchfield Police Department asked the council to require pawn shops to use LeadsOnline, an electronic property‑tracking tool the department uses to locate stolen items across jurisdictions.

Ian explained that without a designated reporting system local shops do not consistently upload inventory, slowing recovery of stolen property; he said the department has recovered items through LeadsOnline in Louisville, Evansville and Owensboro and that making it a local reporting requirement would make the service’s data available locally. Ian said the LeadsOnline service is free for pawn shops to download and that the county/state statute allows local regulation of reporting methods.

Arlene offered to draft an ordinance if the council would direct staff to move forward; she suggested police review the draft before a first reading. Council voted to authorize drafting the ordinance and to pursue a first reading at a future meeting pending police input.

If adopted the ordinance would designate LeadsOnline as the required electronic reporting entity for local pawn brokers and may be tied to business‑license compliance. Councilors asked staff to investigate incentive or licensing tie‑ins to ensure compliance.