Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark said a license-plate reading camera purchased with grant money was damaged this week but led officers to a suspect.

GBPD had 12 license-plate reader cameras in the city and began installation on eight more, Haulmark told the City Council on Monday. “As of this morning, we had four more of those installed but about 9:30 or so a gentleman – I think he had a tire blowout – lost control and took out one of our license-plate reader cameras as well as a light pole on (U.S.) 281 just south of town.

“You know, it’s unfortunate, but he made the decision at that point to go ahead and leave the scene,” Haulmark said. “But through the use of our license-plate reader cameras, we were able to find that same vehicle. We went over and had contact with him in his driveway as he was vacuuming all the glass out of his car.”

Haulmark has emphasized that the cameras aren’t being used to spy on the general public. “Those cameras are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do. We’re not tracking anybody that we don’t need to, but when we need to find a vehicle it’s very helpful.”

At a news conference last October, Sen. Jerry Moran announced a $132,000 grant to help the GBPD purchase the special cameras. The department already had 12 fixed-location cameras and received grant money for more that could be mounted on patrol cars.

“The reason that would be a benefit to us is because, currently, if a vehicle is entered into a national database as being monitored for a crime or somebody being a registered sex offender, it makes us aware of their presence coming through our city,” Haulmark said at that time.

By the end of October, the cameras had helped police locate a vehicle reported stolen in Rush County as it entered Great Bend.

Replacement patrol car

In his report to the council on Monday, Haulmark also noted that a GBPD vehicle was involved in an accident about a month ago. The driver was not at fault. “We just got the final quote and the insurance company is going to pay for it. So the next council meeting we’ll be coming with a request for a replacement vehicle.”

School’s out

Haulmark wrapped up his report with a plea for motorists to be aware of young, inexperienced drivers.

“It’s summertime, school’s out and there are a lot of student drivers,” he said. “I would just like the public to keep that in mind. Be patient. These are young people who maybe have never driven a car at all.”