Hawthorne Edward Byrne JAG. Cutting-edge technology (ALPRs) to heighten professionalism and service quality, allowing law enforcement to rapidly identify crime and provide safe and secure community.

Founded in 1922 and located in the heart of Los Angeles County, the Hawthorne Police Department (Department) provides services and innovations that set us apart. The Department consistently champions the integration of cutting-edge technologies to heighten professionalism and service quality, a commitment evidenced from its historical undertakings. The Department’s innovative outreach to our law enforcement mission has produced the best public safety and citizen engagement results. Beginning in 2014, Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) or camera systems that scan images of license plates and capture and process license plate information faster than any human-operated system have facilitated law enforcement’s ability to identify and compare plates of cars driven by people suspected of being involved in illegal activities. The cameras have emerged as crucial tools, generating significant real-time investigative leads on challenging cases while also improving community and traffic safety. The ALPRs greatly enhance the Hawthorne Police Department's ability to locate outstanding stolen vehicles, felony vehicles, and missing persons vehicles and, in tandem with the city, solve long-term investigations. With the aim of strategically placing additional cameras throughout the community, the Department proposes using Byrne JAG project funds to purchase nine additional ALPRs, six camera brackets, and two fixed camera communications boxes. The purchase will supplement the Real-Time Crime Center where police ingest and analyze surveillance video, intelligence, and data from multiple sources in real-time. The Department, recognizing criminals don’t heed jurisdictional boundaries, collaborates with neighboring jurisdictions on optimal placement to eliminate redundancy, ensuring effective crime identification and prosecution. The ALPRs track vehicle movements across multiple locations, assisting in kidnapping, thefts, or hit-and-run investigations. The purpose aligns with the Department’s mission to provide a safe and secure community for its citizens while at the same time promoting a high degree of professionalism and respect for human dignity. With nearly 100 officers and 60 support staff serving an ever-growing community of over 95,000, the expected outcomes include enhanced community safety, crime prevention and reduction, efficient services, and effective crime identification and prosecution. The Department strives for one goal - to provide the highest service value to the Hawthorne Community. This purchase will further the Department of Justice’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.