Reardan police use new technology

REARDAN — The Police Department has effectively used new technology to resolve a critical missing person case.

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, at approximately 7:29 p.m., the department’s Flock Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) captured the license plate of a vehicle linked to an endangered missing adult reported earlier in Spokane Valley.

According to the Reardan Police Department, the missing elderly individual, who has a history of diabetic episodes, had been reported missing after experiencing confusion and a diabetic coma.

The vehicle’s license plate was provided by a family member who had reported the person missing.

With assistance from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, the missing adult was located and safely reunited with their family.

Recently, Reardan was among 18 law enforcement agencies awarded funding from the Department of Commerce under the Vehicle Pursuit Technology grant.

According to the Reardan Police Department, this funding aims to enhance public safety by providing law enforcement with advanced tools for managing vehicle pursuits.

Reardan, competing against agencies with 1-50 sworn officers, received over $49,000 to invest in three Flock ALPR cameras, two Starchase GPS launchers, two new laptops and two years of mobile internet access.

The goal of the grant was to equip Reardan officers with an early warning system to detect missing persons, AMBER alerts, stolen vehicles, individuals with warrants and other potential criminal activities, which was not feasible before the ALPR deployment.

According to reports, if a vehicle flees, officers can deploy a GPS sensor while the vehicle is in motion, reducing the need for high-risk pursuits.

Studies indicate that fleeing suspects slow down and drive more cautiously when they believe they are no longer being pursued, allowing officers to monitor and track the vehicle from a safe distance.

Since the installation of the ALPRs, they have proven to be a valuable tool in reducing follow-up and investigation times, providing crucial evidence that enhances court outcomes.

According to the Reardan Police Department, the technology has already assisted in solving multiple cases, including two hit-and-run incidents, one theft, one reckless driving case and one missing/endangered adult case.