Cameras may join city's crimefighting arsenal
By Glenn Smith
The Post and Courier
Police Chief Greg Mullen
The eyes of Charleston police may soon be upon you as you stroll through the streets of the Holy City.
Police Chief Greg Mullen said Tuesday he wants to install video surveillance cameras in high-crime areas to monitor public spaces for signs of trouble. Cameras can help police spot crimes in the making and better track crooks as they try to make their getaway, he said.
Mullen wants to start off with about 10 cameras, and is seeking federal grant money to pay for the equipment.
"I think there are a lot of opportunities for us to use this technology for crime-fighting initiatives," he said. "This technology is a way to make the city safer."
Video surveillance has become more commonplace across the country, with cities such as Chicago making wide use of the technology. But all-seeing cameras still spark debates in many communities, pitting public safety against civil liberty concerns.
Mullen said he is sensitive to those concerns and wants to make sure the community is comfortable with the plan before the department proceeds. Strict policies would govern use of the cameras, and they wouldn't be used to spy on private homes or individuals. They would simply record what occurs on streets and other public spaces, he said.
"Everything would be in public venues," he said. "The only thing the camera sees is what people normally would see when they walk down the sidewalk."
City Councilman Wendell Gilliard praised the proposal. He has long advocated the use of surveillance cameras to curtail drug dealing and other crime. Gilliard pushed for signs that were posted around the city warning passers-by that they could be subject to video surveillance. The taping, for the most part, was left to residents.
"Cameras have proven to be a big crime preventative measure, and I think we ought to use them," he said. "It's been a long time coming here."
Throughout his career, Mullen has looked to emerging technologies to help combat crime. He shepherded a similar video surveillance program, to mixed reviews, while working as a police commander in Virginia Beach. Critics accused police of employing invasive Big Brother tactics.
But many residents considered the cameras an innocuous tool that helped make the beach front safer.
A $200,000 pilot program paired the resort city's cameras with facial recognition software designed to help police identify and catch criminals in tourist areas. Technical problems marred the facial recognition program, which didn't yield a single arrest in the three years it was in place.
But Mullen said the cameras themselves proved to be invaluable tools, helping police pinpoint crime and make more efficient use of manpower and resources.
Arthur Lawrence, president of the Charleston's West Side Neighborhood Association, also supports video surveillance. His neighborhood has struggled for years with crime and violence. In March, a 37-year-old woman was shot to death at Bogard and President streets. Her body was found just a few blocks from Nunan Street, where a 32-year-old man had died in a shooting one week earlier.
"If cameras were out here, police could see exactly what's going on. I think the neighborhood would welcome it," Lawrence said. "The only people who should have a concern are the people who are doing something wrong."
City Councilman Jimmy Gallant, chairman of council's public safety committee, said the cameras could be a benefit to the city as long there are assurances that they won't be used to infringe on people's rights or target particular groups.
"I would want to see them used across the board," he said. "I don't just want to see them dumped in high-crime areas of the African-American community."
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly versionComments
meemz (anonymous) says...
Concilman Gallant, wake up... they will first be placed where the greatest need is- HIGH CRIME AREAS! If it happens to be in areas that are more populated by African Americans, then there they will be - it is what it is! Perhaps Gallant would like to donate his time, as well as a camera, and be the eyes in a high crime area that "happens to be" more populated or "frequented" by African Americans? I'm no fool; I know crime happens in ALL communities but I also know it happens more in some than others. The idea, Councilman, is to clean up high crime areas, not target African American folks. I've seen many decent African American people on the news stating that they want their neighborhoods clenaed up in the downtown area. I applaud Chief Mullen for this effort and hope he is awarded the grant(s) needed. No, actually I give him a standing ovation. We have too many students in the downtown area who are often targets of crime as well as other residents of the peninsula who are sick and tired of the low life free-loaders, whatever their ethnicity, who want to rob, steal assault,rape and drug deal their way through life. It's a damn shame one can't walk through the streets of the beautiful city of Charleston and feel safe.
August 29, 2007 at 6:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Wendell has been advocating the use of surveillance cameras for years. He is genuinely trying to make Charleston streets safer, no matter where they are, and he realizes that it's going to make some uncomfortable (those would be the criminals).
August 29, 2007 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mggoose2000 (anonymous) says...
meemz,
If you want to make a point, make it, but please quit referring to people as hyphenated Americans. These people you call African Americans; are they from Africa or America. If they live in the US and citizens of this country, then they are AMERICANS! not African Americans. If they want to be referred to as such, let them go back to Africa. I'm so tired of everyone pandering to them because they don't want to hurt their precious feelings. I personally don't care what "color" these criminals are; if the respectful residents of these high crime areas don't like what's happening, then why do they refuse to assist the police everytime they are questioned about what they saw or heard? Step up and be real "Americans" and act accordinly. Be respectful of the police that are there to help you; send a message to the riff-raff that you want them out of your neighborhood by assisting the police to apprehend them and then be witnesses in the courtroom to convict and punish. Then and only then can we stop considering such police tools as cameras. Wake up Americans, we are a country on the verge of slipping off into hell! It's time to become responsible citizens and time to step up and be recognized as such!
August 29, 2007 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Byfaith (anonymous) says...
I think the surveillance cameras would be a great idea. But, Chief Mullen should do more due diligence and warn the high crime community citizens, if they continue to not cooperate with officers of the law, refusing to step up, point out and testify against suspects, he will move to a more direct approach of installing surveillance cameras in their community. This will cut down on complaints from community members and politicians. The cameras should go up immediately on highly travel streets such as King, Meeting, Calhoun, Eastbay, etc.
August 29, 2007 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
I think the cameras are a great idea also. I just hope they can conceal them well enough or they will be shot out.
The price of constant replacement would be costly to say the least.
August 29, 2007 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ccfromsc (anonymous) says...
Who is John Galt?
"If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not so costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no chance of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."
-Churchill
"I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard existed in this country. I made a mistake in selecting America as a land of freedom, a mistake I cannot repair in the balance of my lifetime."
--Albert Einstein, 1947
August 29, 2007 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MHA (anonymous) says...
Street cameras sound like a great idea to me. If, over a decade, they prevent or help solve just one serious crime, I think they will have paid for themselves. When people are out in the public domain, their actions are also public. Videoing that action doesn't take away any liberties at all.
As for the term African-American; I think it's perfectly OK to use; IF one is referring to a person born on an airplane that was on a trip between the two countries.
August 29, 2007 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
Mark my words, if Bo-Bo sees those candid cameras, he will take them out before he fills somebody up with lead.
Maybe they can hide some of them in the traffic lights.
Now that would be interesting. Imagine catching all the drivers picking their noses or adjusting their crotches.
August 29, 2007 at 6:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Doug, I think that Wendell G. is just sick and tired of the people in his district having to put up with drug dealers. A lot of the people who live there are elderly and are terrified of the drug dealers. Maybe the dealers and other scum will go elsewhere. I applaud his efforts to improve the lives of his constituents, whether it's getting rid of x-rated bookstores near residential areas or drug dealers.
ShotSpotter has been helpful to the police - the police are notified immediately when a gun shot is detected, and the quick response time makes it easier to gather evidence and locate witnesses.
I do take steps for my own safety. I lock my doors and am a VERY good markman.
August 29, 2007 at 7:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
That's "marksman"
August 29, 2007 at 7:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Thank you for your interest in this story. The comment thread for this article has been closed.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
