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Friday, October 14, 2005

Police Consider Crime Cameras

By Jeff Proctor
Journal Staff Writer
    Authorities are kicking around the idea of installing more cameras in Albuquerque— but this time to stop crime, not catch motorists running red lights.
    For starters, cameras would be set up Downtown along Central Avenue, possibly at First and Fifth streets. The goal would be to spot dangerous and criminal activity, particularly on weekends when Downtown can get a little rowdy.
    The Police Oversight Commission's Long Term Planning Committee recommended Thursday that the Albuquerque Police Department study whether the cameras would be effective.
    "We've gotten a lot of complaints from weekends Downtown," Independent Review Officer Jay Rowland said. "There have been fights, officers having to use force, and there are actually a few cases currently in litigation for these kinds of situations."
    Police Chief Ray Schultz said the City Security Force may be able to monitor the cameras' feeds at the City/County Government Building. The building already houses a bank of screens that are linked to wireless cameras in Downtown parking garages and other areas.
    Schultz said he likes the idea of cameras to keep the peace Downtown, but he's cautious of tales from other cities where the devices have caused trouble.
    "When you install that kind of equipment, there's an expectation from the community and the courts that someone is watching on the other end when you have a citizen waving their hands at the camera saying, 'help me, help me,'" he said. "We want to make sure that if we do install them, we don't set ourselves up for a negligence lawsuit."
    The chief said APD would use a local vendor for the cameras, which have to be housed in protective cases to avoid vandalism. He said they cost several thousand dollars apiece.
    Authorities have experimented with the technology— at this year's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Schultz said.
    "We had some good results monitoring the parking lots and the midway area," he said. "The cameras are really neat because they can tilt and pan."
    Other possibilities, Schultz said, would be parking lots at the University of New Mexico, malls and other special events.