MEMORANDUM
April 05 2018
To: Tom Markus, City Manager
From: Gregory C. Burns Jr, Chief of Police
Ref: Public Cameras
BACKGROUND
The Lawrence Police Department currently does not utilize public camera technology for the purpose of public safety. Although public cameras are temporally installed for public safety purposes by order of the Chief of Police within the downtown area during the NCAA tournament and are then removed shortly after the Jayhawks are either eliminated from or win the NCAA tournament. It appears that there has been some form of discussion on cameras since 2003, with the latest discussion occurring in 2012. On 10-01-2017 a multi-victim shooting took place on Massachusetts Street, which resulted in three victims being fatally wounded and two other victims with non-fatal injuries. This incident prompted a renewed discussion about the value of public cameras in Lawrence by the local media.
DATA
Public Cameras increase public safety.
Simply put the main benefit of public cameras in public places is to increase public safety. In today’s times placing cameras in predetermined locations throughout a city can help to enhance public safety, protect property, and assist in crime prevention.
Public Cameras Deter Crime
Cameras can be used as a way to keep an eye out for any crimes that are being committed. The simple sight of the camera, and the thought of getting caught on camera are enough to put some on their best behavior. On the other hand there are always crimes which are not deterred by cameras if bad people want to do bad things.
Public Cameras Help Catch Criminals
If a crime is committed in an area where a camera has been set up, the chances of catching the criminal are much higher. Wanted posters can be made and the pictures can be shared with the media to help spread the word about a criminal or criminal activity. Without the footage from the camera, it can be extremely difficult to gain a description of a suspect, particularly if there were no eye witnesses.
Public Cameras assist in Providing Evidence and Gathering Clues
Footage that is on a public camera that captures a crime being committed can be used in a court of law as evidence against the accused. In some cases, if there were no footage there would be little or no evidence to convict the person of the crime and the individual may go free. Also, in some cases the video camera footage is just as important and can help prove that someone did not commit a crime.
Public Cameras assist with arriving at the Right Decisions
Public cameras can help you make correct and fair decisions when settling
disputes, both in domestic as well as professional scenarios. Whether it is
dealing with a situation involving disagreements on a street corner, or
possibly catching a dispute between customers and employees which occur in the
public realm. Assistance could be obtained with the help of a camera.
DISCUSSION
Law Enforcement agencies across the country including some local Kansas agencies such as the University of Kansas Police Department, Overland Park Police Department, Kansas City Missouri, Kansas City Kansas, Wichita, Olathe, Lenexa, and Shawnee utilize some version of public camera systems. While each community has to decide when the time is right and what the tipping point is in order to turn to this technology. I would say that violence is that point for any community and we have already reached that point in our downtown area with the horrific triple homicide on 10-01-2017. This heinous crime could have possibly went unsolved if not in part for the utilization of footage from cameras to assist in establishing enough probable cause for arrest in the identification process.
While I do fully understand privacy concerns by some in relation to public cameras, I truly believe that the positives vastly outweigh the negatives. The key to addressing concerns is to have a sound policy as technology plays a key role in today’s world of policing in the 21st century. If the project is allowed to move forward, the police department already has a draft policy which should address most privacy concerns due to the limited personnel allowed to access the camera system, the limited video storage time prior to deletion (14 days), and the language which specifically speaks to prohibited uses by law enforcement. While there is less expectation of privacy in public settings, such as on a downtown sidewalk or street corner, great care will be given in the use of this system if it is approved.
Some of the infrastructure for a system already exists as part of the city’s Final Four response preparations. There would be costs to acquire cameras and the proper communication services for those devices. The scope of the downtown project would include coverage for Massachusetts Street between 6th and 11th street. The coverage would be accomplished utilizing two different types of overt security cameras in 19 positions in the downtown, Massachusetts Street area (Map).
The first camera utilized would be a non-movable, overt security camera that provides viewing in four directions. This device would provide coverage at the intersections from 6th to 11th where there is a high volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The second type of device used to supplement the fixed cameras in this proposal would be a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) camera. These cameras would be positioned at locations between 6th and 11th street on Massachusetts to complete coverage for the downtown area. They would provide coverage between intersections and be used to monitor areas of concern in large scale events like parades and Final Four celebrations.
BUDGET EFFECT
An appropriate model of PTZ camera that would provide coverage at the 13 locations. Proposed costs would be approximately $3,000 each. The second type of fixed camera needed for the proposal, would be utilized at 6 locations. Costs would be approximately $1,500 each. The total cost for the 19 devices would be approximately $48,000. Computer server costs to manage storage and communications hardware are estimated at approximately $60,000.
An estimated cost to implement the project would be approximately $108,000. However if given approval to move forward, formal quotes would be requested.
FUNDING SOURCES
There are no identified funding sources identified at this time.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Lawrence Police Department adopt the use of public cameras as suggested in this report.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Policy on Public Cameras
Memo on Downtown Violent Crime
Gregory Burns Jr.
Chief of Police