Grover Beach Police Department Uses Technology to Arrest Child Molester and Enhance Operations

In a recent operation, the Grover Beach Police Department made a swift arrest with the help of new technology. A suspect wanted for child molestation in Washington was believed to be in the city, and with the use of a license plate reader system, officers were able to track the suspect’s vehicle. The system alerted them when the car was in the city, leading to a high-risk stop on 7th Street and Grand Avenue.

Construction workers nearby witnessed the arrest, with one worker, Kyle Swieringa, mentioning that he felt he was in the line of fire during the operation. The suspect was pulled out of the car and taken into custody by the police. The arrest was made just one day after receiving a notification from Ellensburg Police due to the license plate reader cameras installed in 2023.

Commander Bryan Millard highlighted the effectiveness of the technology in assisting with several cases, including the removal of ten stolen vehicles and related arrests. Residents in the community like Marissa Zambo expressed their support for the use of such technology as it helps in catching criminals.

The Grover Beach Police Department is looking to further enhance its operations by incorporating AI and other technologies. They are considering setting up a real-time crime information center that would integrate multiple technologies into a central hub for identifying trends. Currently, there are 17 cameras placed in various locations throughout the city, each costing about $2,500, with half of the cameras recently funded by a federal technology grant.