Mercer County to install 10 license plate cameras

CELINA- Ten license plate readers will soon be set up in high traffic areas in Mercer County to help authorities investigate crimes.

Mercer County commissioners on Tuesday approved a five-year agreement between the county sheriff's office and Flock Group Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia, for 10 license plate readers at a cost of $33,500.

The readers will be strategically placed at various heavily traveled locations throughout the county, said sheriff's office chief deputy Doug Timmerman.

The cameras operate 24/7 to capture images of the backs of vehicles, providing crucial pieces of evidence that the sheriff's office will use to investigate crimes, according to the Flock Group website.

Timmerman said the cameras will serve as an effective law enforcement tool.

"Say we had a burglary at the Dollar General at (State Route) 219 and (U.S. Route) 127, near Tractor Supply," he said. "If someone were to have spotted a white pickup truck between midnight and 3 a.m. when we think the burglary occurred, we could search the database for a white pickup truck, and see all trucks that passed through the county during that time."

He added that the department will also have access to other law enforcment agency cameras throughout the country within the Flock database to aid in investigations.

The department consulted with both Auglaize and Hardin counties, whose authorities use the technology. Timmerman said that after having so much success recovering stolen vehicles, the Hardin County Sheriff's Office purchased more cameras.

The agreement will be paid for through the inmate phone commission fund, which generates revenue from inmates who use the jail telephone, Timmerman said.

In other business, commissioners approved a three-year ag lease agreement with Dennis Eichenaur for 183 tillable acres and 38.9 acres designated as filter strips near the county jail off of State Route 29 in Celina.

Commissioner Jerry Laffin said the board received seven bids for the land and went with Eichenaur for $408 per acre.

Eichenaur will have the option to renew the lease agreement for an additional three years.