Nalani Johnson, a 23-month-old toddler from Penn Hills, was kidnapped and murdered five years ago. Now, Westmoreland County is taking steps to prevent similar tragedies by installing license plate readers throughout the region.
The readers will form a multicounty surveillance network led by district attorneys and local law enforcement agencies. North Huntingdon will be the first municipality in Westmoreland County to receive these devices, followed by Rostraver and Murrysville. The county plans to install a total of 20 readers at strategic intersections in 10 municipalities.
North Huntingdon Police Chief Robert Rizzo emphasizes the effectiveness of these cameras in aiding criminal investigations, victim recovery, and closure for victims and their families. The county has allocated $26,000 for the license plate readers, computer systems, and software licensing in North Huntingdon.
The impetus for this initiative stems from the Nalani Johnson case, where law enforcement lost track of the suspect’s vehicle once it crossed into Westmoreland County due to a lack of license plate readers. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala called for neighboring counties to participate in the plate reader network, leading to the collaboration between Westmoreland County and other jurisdictions.
The Western Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association has played a pivotal role in expanding the initiative, resulting in seven counties and Youngstown, Ohio, joining the effort. The police chiefs carefully selected the locations of the plate readers, with two being placed at intersections in North Huntingdon. The images captured will be stored for a limited time, with only the license plate image retained after five months.
In addition to North Huntingdon, the county is providing funding to Murrysville and Rostraver for license plate readers, recognizing their proximity to Allegheny County via major highways. Rostraver Police Chief Scott Sokol and Murrysville Police Chief Tom Seefeld did not respond to requests for comment on the initiative.
