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Police to install security cameras at several sites
by Kathleen Haley, published on April 20, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Storyline: Police / Public Safety
The city may install new security cameras at Sacramento’s K Street and Regional Transit stations, as well as at other possible locations in the coming months, Mayor Kevin Johnson said at a press conference Monday.
Sacramento will pay for a new surveillance system consisting of new cameras and related equipment from a pot of $615,000 in Federal Homeland Security grant funds. Though the funding is from a federal pot, it was doled out to the city by the state.
“I campaigned on this notion that we wanted to make public safety a top priority, and today is a significant victory in our efforts to make good on that promise,” Johnson said.
Over the past seven to eight years, Sacramento is second to Oakland in violent crime statistics, Johnson said, noting that these statistics are “not acceptable.”
The package of equipment will include 32 cameras and four mobile surveillance trailers.
Johnson said the cameras will be installed at high traffic and high crime locations such as on K Street and near major Regional Transit stations.
“The new system will create a powerful deterrent for would-be criminals,” Johnson said. “Similar systems have been used in other cities around the country and played a major role in reducing crime.”
California Emergency Management Agency Acting Secretary Matthew Bettenhausen said Monday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has “made very clear that the government’s No. 1 one priority needs to be public safety."
While Johnson mentioned K Street and Regional Transit stations, specific locations have not yet been chosen. Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel said the police department is going to work with the city council and community members to choose locations.
In addition to fixed cameras, the package includes some mobile cameras to use at special events and other places where crimes “pop up,” Braziel said.
One of the city’s next steps is to hold a procurement process for the cameras and the other surveillance equipment, said Konrad VonSchoech, a spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department.
Braziel said he hopes the system will be ready to be installed by fall.
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savemidtown
edited on
April 20, 2009 | 10:52 PM
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (USDOJ), Sacramento has one of the lowest ratios of uniformed officers to population in the state, 1.6 officers per 1,000 people. Los Angeles has 2.5 uniformed officers per 1,000 people. and Beverly Hills has 4 per 1,000 people. Most major cities have cameras at transit stations and busy intersections but it's really police presence, and prevention efforts like effective Code Enforcement, and being able to get an officer out when suspicious activity is occuring that makes the difference. Staffing levels make the real difference. Plus, a better balance of businesses in the urban area, not a city made up entirely of bars which are labor intensive and expensive to patrol. So the same overstrapped officers will monitor the cameras? I guess it's a start but we seriously need more patrol officers, Problem Oriented Policing (POP) officers, & Community Service Officers working side by side with Housing & Dangerous Buildings & other areas of Code Enforcement. That is the key to public safety.
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Andrew Pettit
April 21, 2009 | 11:42 AM
You are right we are understaffed as a police agency and even more so considering that we are the Capitol of a very large state with events such as large protests. We were understaffed even when we were fully staffed at 804 officers. We are currently down 98 officer position and around 114 civilian jobs that include CSO, Dispatchers, and Records staff. The camera's are a good way to be a force multiplyer and will alllow us to better manage large events and natural disasters. The camera's are not a substitute for officers on the street since you still need them to respond when something is seen on surveillance camera's but it will be of assistance. Thanks for the support.
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savemidtown
April 21, 2009 | 10:08 PM
I support the cameras in theory but don't want anyone (especially city leadership) thinking it is any kind of substitute for people. What can we in the community do to help Sac PD get more people? Our various Neighborhood Associations do what they can to advocate for more budgeted staff but how do we get our city management structure and electeds to listen and budget more positions? Thank you Sergeant Leong for responding and providing more info.
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Andrew Pettit
April 22, 2009 | 2:06 PM
I think keeping your elected leaders aware that the community wants and values more police officers is important. Unfortuantely right now we are all aware that there is no money in the budget for more officers. The officers that work for this police department are here because they love working in this city and for this agency amd as such we have been doing a lot of great police work despite being understaffed. We are currently 98 officers down from our full staffing and even when fully staffed at 804 officers we are lowest per capita compared to other Capital cities with similar population. We appreciate your continued support.
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savemidtown
April 22, 2009 | 10:46 PM
Agreed, Sac PD do exemplary work and we are so fortunate to have the officers we have. Lt. Bray and Sgt. Matthews come to mind. Keep up the good work.
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Karl Haley
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April 26, 2009 | 11:24 PM
Electronic surveillance erodes the constitutionally-protected freedom of public spaces and does practically nothing to reduce crime. Concerned about cameras? Wear a hat.
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