Cameras A 'Game Changer' For Burr Ridge Cops: Chief

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge plans to install license plate readers on cameras in local subdivisions, which would immediately alert police when suspects' cars go by.

Village Board members supported the idea, but questioned the police chief about whether such equipment complied with agreements with homeowners associations. One trustee wondered what it would take to make the "bad boys and girls list."

Under the village's plan, the license plate readers would be added to 42 of 82 subdivision cameras. Officials said 16 subdivision take part in the village's camera program.

The village already has two squad cars with license plate reader cameras, immediately alerting officers to stolen cars and other suspect vehicles.

But Police Chief John Madden said the village recently learned it could get standing license plate readers for a lot less money than before.

"When we were first introduced to this, we couldn't believe it," the chief said. "It's a game changer."

The agreement with homeowners associations was for the camera systems to be passive. In other words, police would review footage as part of criminal investigations, but not watch it otherwise.

At a Village Board meeting earlier this month, trustees noted that this is how the cameras were originally sold to associations.

Richard Morton, president of Burr Ridge's Lake Ridge Club Homeowners Association, said he supported the idea of license plate readers, but with caveats.

He said the license plate readers were somewhere between active and passive. Changing the systems without associations' approval, he said, would be a breach of their agreements with the village.

Morton also said he did not want the license plate readers to detract from the goal of getting more cameras in subdivisions, especially in areas that are "out of sight or out of mind" such as dead ends and cul-de-sacs.

The chief and Mayor Gary Grasso said license plate readers would not be forced on any subdivision.

Trustee Zach Mottl asked how people can get on the "bad boys and girls list" for the license plate readers.

"Could anyone in the village add someone to the list? I sometimes feel like the entire board is against me," said Mottl, whom the board has officially reprimanded six times. "I wouldn't want to end up on the bad boys list, where you're watching where I'm going."

"Oh, come on," the mayor said. "That's ridiculous. Poor victim, Zach."

Madden responded that the cars that are on the list are in large criminal databases.

"No one enters any kind of information to watch anyone unless they are suspected of a crime," the chief said.

The board unanimously approved the license plate readers for the subdivisions.