Medina PD will add license plate readers at 3 locations on Main Street

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has approved three license plate readers on Main Street in the village, technology that will alert the police department for vehicles that have been reported stolen or linked to crimes.

Medina will be using a grant to hire Flock Safety to install license plate readers in the downtown at the Main Street and Center Street intersection, and also on South Main Street near Crosby’s and North Main Street near Hartway Motors, said Christian Navas, acting police chief for the Medina Police Department. These readers won’t be in patrol cars.

The Village Board also authorized the Police Department to work with Flock Safety to install a camera in the Canal Basin.

Flock Safety will be paid $39,000 over three years to install the technology for the Medina PD. Medina also will become part of a network of more than 5,000 agencies with the license plate reader technology.

Any license plates Medina is trying to locate will be added to the overall network, outside of Medina. The Medina PD also could get hits on license plates sought by other agencies.

Navas said there have been stolen vehicles from the dealerships in Medina, or people who purchase them fraudulently with bad checks. The Police Department also has looked for vehicles suspected in other crimes.

The license plate readers only focus on vehicle data and do not collect personal information, facial recognition or anything tied to individuals, Flock Safety said.

The $39,000 cost is covered by a law enforcement technology grant secured by the Medina PD. The department also used part of that grant to purchase new radar technology and a speed sign on Gwinn Street.

Navas said the new license plate readers and camera system could be in service early next year.

Medina may consider adding cameras to Butts Park and State Street Park in the future, Mayor Marguerite Sherman said.