Posted on 03/07/2006 11:21:59 AM PST by DBeers
You might expect to see cameras taking pictures of beautiful scenic shots at a park. But installing surveillance cameras to prevent lewd behavior would be a first for the city.
Last year, nearly 300 people were cited for indecent exposure in various Metro parks.
So common are the complaints, it's earned Cedar Hill a reputation.
"This is about families taking their children to feed the ducks in the afternoon and being accosted by men doing things that you and I wouldn't even talk about on TV,” said Metro councilman Michael Craddock.
But that hasn't stopped the talk at city council meetings, where members unanimously approved surveillance cameras for parks to prevent public indecency, stopping public sex acts.
"Deviants. That's what these are. There's sexual deviance and you know Cedar Hill Park is listed on national Web sites for homosexual behavior as a place to go for an encounter,” Craddock said.
Cedar Hill is one of three parks that will get the new cameras.
That's where Lisa Osburn walks her dogs twice a week.
"It's hard to stop people from doing what they're going to do if they want to do it bad enough,” Osburn said.
That kind of persistence has kept police busy. Last June undercover officers arrested 12 people at the park for indecent exposure.
And last fall, 92 arrests were made for similar offenses. New surveillance cameras have some critics, but parents who bring their children to play at the park said it's about time.
"When you go out in a public place, I don't think, and when it's got to do with kids, I don't think it's infringing. Not when that kind of reputation's been developed. No,” resident Tom Terry said.
A reputation both parents and city leaders want changed.
"At some point, we're going to take the park back and give it to the people that own it. We're not going to let these deviants have this park,” Craddock said.
The cost for 10 to 15 cameras will be around $20,000. Cedar Hill, Hamilton Creek and Two Rivers will be the first parks to get them.
Cameras are likely to be installed in 60 to 90 days. The parks board is waiting on funding
Viewing the tapes, would have to be one of the worlds worst jobs.
Could rename the park, Brokeback Park. {just an idea?}
Of course cameras are aimed at ending sex acts. They call it the "money shot" in the business.
But, but I thought homosexuals were moral people who occupied the mainstream of America? You mean they're sexual deviants who practice unsafe sex with partners they don't know?
This is not what the MSM is telling me. Could the press have been lying?
Ok, ok....that much sarcasm in one post is giving me a headache.
Barney Franks has offered to do this work pro bono.
"300 people were cited for indecent exposure in various Metro parks"
Didn't they arrest a lot of people at Cedar Hill for indecent exposure a while back?
It didn't stop Paris Hilton!
Oops, article says they did.
Uhhhh.
Barney Franks has offered to do this work pro boner...
As we just seen you could edit those tapes and get nominated for an Oscar!
I live in Nashville and, from what I've heard, Centennial Park is notorious for this stuff so I wonder why it's not on the list to get the cameras?
The exhibitionists will love it.
That was my initial post, changed just prior to posting. :-)
I know a way to stop sex acts. Get married.
I woulda changed it too...
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