WILLIMANTIC — Willimantic Police are installing license plate readers and cameras that will help them track down criminals.

Police Chief Paul Hussey said the readers will be installed at main thoroughfares throughout town.

" What we're trying to do is track anybody who has committed a crime within the city entering or exiting the city so we know where to look," he said during the Jan. 24 Willimantic Taxing District Board of Directors meeting. Hussey said the readers will be used to tell where the individual is going and then Willimantic Police can notify area agencies to be on the lookout for the suspect.

He said police already issue BOLO's (be on the lookout) notifications, which are used by police to notify area agencies of suspects traveling into their towns.

" These will be in public areas, so we're not trying to spy on anybody," Hussey said, referring to the plate readers. He said police can type in the make and model of a vehicle and the camera will then take a picture of every car similar to that description.

" Technology has really come a long way," Hussey said.

He said this is "nothing new," and the cameras are used in New York City, as well as England. " It's not going to stop us from being vigilant and being out there," Hussey said. "We're not going to rely on cameras to report back to us."

Rather, he said the camera/ plate reader system provides an "extra set of eyes," when officers are " tied up" and can't respond to something that is happening.

Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers said $100,000 was allocated in the 2022-23 budget for the new plate readers and cameras.

More money will be budgeted in the proposed Willimantic Taxing District 2023-24 budget. The amount of that proposal has not been revealed yet.

Hussey said the police department has purchased enough plate readers, but the camera systems are more expensive than anticipated, including installation costs.

Willimantic Taxing District Board of Directors President Randall Prose said he felt the camera/ plate reader systems were "worthwhile" expenses, noting that they provide information that is valuable for solving crimes. Hussey said the plate readers will not be used to catch someone running through a red light, noting that Willimantic Police are not highway patrol."

"We're not interested in that at all," he said.