Posted on 08/22/2002 11:52:27 AM PDT by PJeffQ
Surveillance cameras will 'patrol' city
Cameras will be mounted in USC, Five Points, other areas; monitored by police on patrol
By JEFF WILKINSON
Staff Writer
Columbia police will begin installing surveillance cameras on the streets of Five Points and several other areas of the city as early as October.
And City Council has agreed to buy $500,000 worth of new street lighting for the University Neighborhood adjacent to the Five Points commercial district.
The two initiatives are needed to improve public safety around USC and Five Points - a need demonstrated by last year's shooting death of federal prosecutor Michael Messer, city officials said.
But City Council passed no ordinance governing where the cameras could be placed or how the information could be used. The city already operates three cameras, one in Finlay Park and two in undisclosed residential areas.
But civil liberties groups are concerned about the expanded use of the surveillance technique.
"We don't want a Big Brother way of doing things in South Carolina," said Laverne Neal, executive director of the S.C. branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. "I don't know if this is something we want to see in the city of Columbia. And at least there should be some kind of policy regulating that type of information."
City Council member Jim Papadea, who had pressured the police to move forward with the controversial plan, said cameras would be placed in public rights of way to view public areas.
"They would observe just as you or I would if we were standing on a street corner," he said. "It's just like a news photographer taking a picture on a public street."
Papadea said he would be willing to develop an ordinance governing how the cameras are used, if needed.
The cameras initially would be installed in the Five Points/King Park and Arsenal Hill/Finlay Park areas and at points along Garners Ferry Road and North Main Street.
City manager Leona Plaugh said those areas don't represent high-crime areas. But they are urban commercial and park areas suited to this type of surveillance.
"They become extra eyes and ears for the police," she said.
Police Chief Charles Austin wouldn't say where the cameras would be located or how many would be placed in each area.
But he said if they were effective in deterring crime or catching criminals, City Council might decide later to place more of them in other parts of the city.
"Once we assess the effectiveness of these cameras, we can begin putting them in other areas," he said.
Dennis Hiltner, president of the Five Points Merchants Association, said the organization hasn't taken an official position on the cameras. Some members have privacy concerns, though, he said.
"But they are a minority. I don't see those arguments as valid," Hiltner said. "The cameras, just by their presence, are a deterrent to crime."
Messer, from Chicago, was shot while walking through the University Neighborhood with another prosecutor who was training with him at USC's National Advocacy Center.
"We've had one tragedy after another, some more publicized than others," City Council member Anne Sinclair said. "We have people jumping out of the bushes. Homes being entered."
Council members acknowledged the amount of money being funneled into the USC area for lighting and surveillance is higher than for other areas of the city.
But they said it's needed because of the number of students who travel on foot there.
"We hold the university and that neighborhood to a higher standard (on zoning, preservation and other issues), and we need to treat that neighborhood with a higher standard" of city services, Sinclair said.
The cameras, installation and training cost $117,000. City Council on Wednesday approved the purchase of 12 cameras.
The cameras, mounted to poles or buildings, would be connected to monitors in patrol cars, so officers could respond quickly should they see something suspicious. Officers also can control the tilt and rotation of the cameras from their cars. They also will be able to make the cameras pan and zoom in.
The cameras are capable of storing 30 days' worth of digital images that can be retrieved on a master computer at police headquarters, Papadea said.
The cameras aren't designed to be mobile. But they could be moved to other areas of the city as needs change, Austin said.
USC officials were supportive of the surveillance cameras and worked closely with the University Neighborhood Association to develop the plan to add streetlights in the area.
"I'm gratified and enthusiastic about this plan," USC President Andrew Sorensen said of the lighting plans.
City Council members are still debating how to pay for the $500,000 worth of streetlights.
Under an agreement being finalized between the city and SCANA Corp. over transfer of the area's bus system, the utility would provide $500,000 a year for street lighting, burying power lines and other related projects.
The city would have to match that total to make it available.
City officials said they would determine later whether to use SCANA money to pay for the lighting or use their own funds and free the utility's money for other purposes.
"We have plenty of projects," Mayor Bob Coble said.
The streetlights would be installed on ornamental "Charleston fluted" poles similar to the light fixtures along Gervais Street, city officials said.
Also, area power lines would be buried as part of the project.
No start time has been set for the lighting project.
City manager Leona Plaugh said those areas don't represent high-crime areas(2)
...they were effective in deterring crime or catching criminals(3)
"Once we assess the effectiveness of these cameras, we can begin putting them in other areas(4)
"But they are a minority. I don't see those arguments as valid(5)," Hiltner said
...and we need to treat that neighborhood with a higher standard (6)
Heil Hiltner!!!
1. "Them pesky people are STILL worried that this'll be misused. I assure them: it won't"
2. Why not: why are they here, then? (oh, see #3)
3. database image matching
4. Big Brother wants to be everywhere: to PROTECT you, of course.
5. Phooey on your right to privacy!
6. "...some are more equal than others......." Animal Farm - George Orwell
One only need to observe the rapidly rising crime rate to evaluate how effective it has been.
Just one of the many web pages about the issue: http://tash.gn.apc.org/cctv.htm
"Once we assess the effectiveness of these cameras, we can begin putting them in other areas," he said.
Ummm...if they aren't effective they will be removed, right? Yeah, right. [roll eyes]
Wonder what their attitude would be toward a citizens group, on public streets, recording the comings, goings, etc. of the city council and police departments?
How? Better photography of the planes crashing into the WTC? Personally, I thought the video coverage of the event was quite good enough.
Out of curiosity, is open or concealed carry legal in the cities where these types of surveilance devices are being installed? Most of the places I've noticed these things going on seem to be really anti self defence, especially with guns.
More likely that double tap photo will be given to you free at your trials, one in the criminal trial and one in the civil suit by your attacker or his survivors.
Better judged by 12, than carried by 6.
Bob Barr was the biggest outspoken opponent of biometric/survellience in Congress. He lost big time. So will others who oppose it. Libetarians will say Barr lost because he is against drug abuse. I don't think so. You guys make good points, but will not win on this issue.
The Gov't CAN'T stalk: it merely collects information.
DITTO!...give the government an inch, they will take 800 miles!
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free the southland,sw
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