Do We Need More Security Cameras?

Security cameras always greet closely you upon entering Manhattan. The borough has 177 NYPD camera boxes according to the Daily News. Brooklyn follows closely with 153 and that number has been rising thanks to the efforts of local politicians. Residents who would like to see the number rise faster recently questioned when the $1 million 150-camera plan that followed Leiby Kletzky’s murder would materialize.

At last night’s Community Board 14 Budget Committee Meeting, District Manager Shawn Campbell discussed the need for increased capital funding for security cameras within the district.

“Security cameras are the smallest portion of Police Department capital budget,” said Shawn, “but they’re the most requested by the community.”

One particularly slow step in the process of implementing cameras is deciding the exact and best locations for the devices.

When discussing capital funding for station rehabilitation for the Church Avenue, Parkside Avenue, Beverly Road, Cortelyou Road B/Q stations and 18th Avenue F station, the committee decided to recommend including security cameras at all rehabilitated stations.

“Increase funding for security cameras” ended up as the lowest priority for recommended police capital funding on the committee’s budget proposal. Proposals to expand, move or rehabilitate the 70th Precinct House were deemed a higher priority. Station rehabilitation, including security cameras, was recommended as the highest priority for the Transit Authority capital funding.

The committee’s budget priority proposal will be presented to the entire community at Monday’s monthly meeting. This month’s Community Board 14 meeting is set for October 15 at 7:15 pm at P.S. 249 (18 Marlborough Road on the corner of Caton Avenue). You can read the meeting’s agenda here.

Do we need more security cameras in the area? If so, where exactly should they be located?