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Colorado license plate reader network helps authorities MARCH 5, 2026 — The Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) today highlighted the role of license plate reader technology in helping law enforcement apprehend a suspect today accused in a violent homicide investigation. According to authorities, investigators used license plate reader alerts to help determine the path of a stolen vehicle believed to be connected to the killings of three women in southern Utah. The suspect was later located and arrested in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and is being held on a concealed weapon charge after authorities reported finding a handgun and a large knife in his possession. The case illustrates how shared public safety technology can help law enforcement quickly coordinate across jurisdictions when serious crimes occur. Late last evening, the Durango Police Department received an alert that a vehicle connected to a homicide investigation had been detected by cameras in the Four Corners region. Because the department participates in a regional license plate reader network, officers were able to access the alert and quickly analyze the vehicle’s movements. Using the system, officers identified multiple camera detections showing the vehicle traveling through Farmington and Aztec, New Mexico, and moving toward Durango. Additional data indicated the vehicle had already passed through the area and appeared to be continuing toward Pagosa Springs. Durango officers immediately relayed the information to the Pagosa Springs Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities later located the stolen vehicle in Pagosa Springs, where the suspect fled on foot. The individual was ultimately apprehended with assistance from a drone and a K-9 unit. According to the Utah Highway Patrol, the suspect is accused of killing a woman in Wayne County, Utah, stealing her vehicle, and later killing two women hiking near Capitol Reef National Park before fleeing in one of their vehicles. Law enforcement officials say the ability to quickly identify and share vehicle information across jurisdictions helped accelerate the search. “This case shows how important it is for agencies to be able to share information quickly when violent crimes occur,” said Durango Police Chief Brice Current, a CACP member. “Technology like license plate readers gives investigators critical leads that can help locate dangerous suspects and protect communities.” The importance of such tools has been demonstrated in other investigations as well. In one Durango case, a shooting suspect fired a shotgun at another individual in a public park, with pellets striking a nearby vehicle carrying an infant. The suspect vehicle was never identified, in part because a nearby camera had not yet been installed at the time. “These technologies can mean the difference between identifying a suspect or losing a critical investigative lead,” the chiefs association said. The association emphasized that law enforcement leaders remain committed to balancing public safety with privacy protections. Law enforcement leaders say the Durango case demonstrates how these tools can play a vital role in identifying suspects and preventing further harm. “When violent crimes occur, time matters,” said Chief Chris Noeller, president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. “Tools that help law enforcement share information quickly across jurisdictions can be critical to locating dangerous suspects and keeping communities safe.”
The Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police is a professional organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement leaders and enhancing public safety for the communities they serve. CACP represents 125 agencies across the state. |
Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation
The challenges faced by agency heads and departments to honorably memorialize officers who have died in the line of duty, and care for their families and department personnel are daunting. The sad reality is there will be more, and your agency could be next.
The Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation (CFHF) will bring together multi-agency professionals with a variety of specialized skills to respond,and assist any organization with a memorial service befitting a hero as needed.
