Cameras Don’t Lie

New Haven project will aid in solving crime

Often, when openly discussing the idea of cameras in public spaces, images out of George Orwell’s 1984 are conjured in the imagination. So when New Haven argued that it wanted to purchase 500 additional surveillance cameras, it was met with pushback from some constituents who felt this was a step towards an Orwellian future. Others felt that not only will this be a useful tool in solving crime, but it also has the possibility to prevent crime.

The proposal began as part of the pandemic-relief money that was given to all towns and cities. New Haven already had about 200 cameras, which pales in comparison to Connecticut’s other large cities. Hartford for instance has 1200, while Bridgeport has 1,600 according to figures reported in the New Haven Independent.

But these cameras are not simply a matter of keeping up with the joneses. New Haven has a lower closure rate than these cities, and often the issue isn’t that the police don’t have credible leads, but simply that they do not have evidence that will stand up in court or community members are reticent to share information with the police.

During a press conference on the subject, Mayor Justin Elicker noted one strong advantage: “Cameras don’t lie.”

That is an ongoing reason why police more and more are relying on video evidence from all manner of sources.

One obvious resource are police body cameras. Mandated to be worn by all police, it is generally accepted that the footage these cameras collect protect both the police officer and the public from any abuse of power.

But towns and cities across the country are increasingly looking towards cameras not installed by the municipality, but the public themselves. These cameras come in the form of doorbells and other such devices that homeowners install to protect their homes. And with this valuable resource police departments, including several in Connecticut, have asked homeowners to become part of their database of cameras.

The way it works is that the police don’t have access to the cameras 24/7, but if a suspect robs a bank and travels through a neighborhood, they could then ask the homeowners along the route to share the video to accurately trace the vehicles path.

While the fictional world presents a cautionary tale against Big Brother style spying on everyday citizens, the real world presents a different kind of tale. It’s one where people prefer to have the record reflect the truth, honestly and accurately. Even the best-intentioned citizen does not have the recall of a camera record.

There’s no guarantee that cameras will be a cure-all for the cities problem, and more than one individual in the city said they were just one tool in the toolbox. But for New Haven, it’s important that those tools are available when they are needed most.

The Public Safety section of CT&C is sponsored by Emergency Resource Management. Learn more at: http://ermanagement.com