Monitor photo/Carla Gray
Gun Barrel City Secretary Janet Dillard (from left), Community Engagement Coordinator Brooke Hairl, City Council Member Mickie Raney, City Administrator Dr. Angie Smith, Chief of Police Keith Stephens and Economic Development Corporation Vice President Keith Bond discuss the pride they take in their fair city during the Gun Barrel City Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce networking meeting Sept. 18.

Monitor photo/Carla Gray
Every month the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Gun Barrel City chapter meets at Gun Barrel City Hall to share information concerning the city and lake area business opportunities. 

Gun Barrel City‑The Gun Barrel City Chapter Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce met for their morning networking Sept. 18. This month’s guest speaker was Gun Barrel City Chief of Police Keith Stephens.
After a short talk on basic driving skills, Stephens discussed the recent license plate readers that are now in Gun Barrel City, stating that they were purchased through a grant from the state. There are six, and they have been placed at all entry points of the city, the Chef said. Since March, when the license plate readers went online, the police department has had 483 alerts, out of those alters there were stolen vehicles, sex offenders, an agency is looking into a vehicle for narcotics, stolen plates and active warrants said Stephens. 
Gun Barrel City City Manager Dr. Angie Smith asked Stephens to explain why these license plate readers are not spy cameras. Stephens said, “The cameras are looking for something specific, which is something a law enforcement agency has actually entered, rather it be a wanted vehicle, a stolen vehicle or a sex offender. Before we’re done we will have license plate readers at every entrance to the park. So, if we have a sex offender that runs through one of those cameras and it doesn’t hit another camera leaving the park, then we will know to go to the park to see what is going on and see why they are still there. It does read every license plate that comes through, but we do not have access to those unless there is actually a hit on it.” 
According to Stephens, the cameras are capable of capturing more than just license plates; their database can also record specific characteristics of a vehicle, such as a plumbers rack, bumper stickers or color. Stephens gave an example, that if a residence is burglarized while the homeowner is away and a neighbor is able to provide a description of a vehicle seen at the time of the incident, police can review camera data from the area to help identify potential suspects.
Smith also asked about information on vehicles that are not in the database. Stephens replied, “We do not do anything with that information, unless we have a report. We do not go searching vehicles unless we actually have a case number.” Smith added that when a vehicle is added into the system it is nationwide. The City Manager said, “Cities across the metroplex, state and across the country have the same system so they can work in tandem to find people or cars as they move around, it is centered around people who have broken the law in some form or fashion, not just random citizens.”
In other business, members:
• Heard from the owner of Lone Star Barber, Leslie Smith.
• Heard from Economic Development Corporation Director Charles Houk.
• Heard the next Gun Barrel City Chapter meeting will be Oct. 16.