'Rich Network' Of Elmhurst Cop Cameras

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst police have plenty of cameras on the city's borders, but they want more inside the town, particularly near shopping areas, the police chief said this week.

The city got a $40,000 grant for eight cameras, though it wanted 10 times the money for that purpose, Police Chief Michael McLean told the City Council.

As it is, the city has a strong network of about 50 license plate reading cameras at its boundaries, he said.

"For the most part, every entrance and exit to our town is covered by a (license plate reading) camera," McLean said. "That allows us to be very proactive in responding to crimes, whether they be retail crime-based or any other offense."

He said he likes that private businesses are integrating their cameras into the city's network, which expands the police department's monitoring.

Mayor Scott Levin described the city as on the cutting edge with its cameras. He said officials in other towns tell him how they're buying license plate readers for the first time.

"I'm like, 'I've heard about them.' We've had them for five years," the mayor. "I think we have a pretty rich network."

Alderman Mike Brennan asked the police department to propose a "modest alternative" for the city to buy even more cameras.