If chatter on the Internet is any indication, District citizens are abuzz about the possibility of closed-circuit surveillance cameras in their neighborhoods.
That’s not to say they agree. But as the Metropolitan Police Department battles the recent rash of violent crimes, residents are debating the usefulness and appropriateness of a new crime-fighting tool.
“I would like to suggest that we look at our neighborhood to determine if there are locations that would benefit from the camera system being installed by the D.C. police,” Allison Boisson wrote on the Shepherd Park Yahoo group. “The cameras will not be monitored, but will be used as a tool to identify participants in crime that occur in the area monitored. Outside of the area with obvious drug activity, I am not sure if we have a specific problem area(s).”
Boisson was joined by residents from other Ward 4 neighborhoods, including the Petworth and Kennedy Street communities — home to multiple MPD crime “hot spots.”
Marian Patten, of Connecticut Avenue Northwest, wanted to ensure the cameras were fairly distributed.
“Most of the crime is in Northeast and Southeast,” Patten wrote. “Will they get the benefit of these cameras? Will they be asked where they want cameras? Or is this a white people’s project?”
Responding to the online discussion, 4th District Police Comm. Hilton Burton wrote the cameras will be placed “after we select locations that will provide the greatest area of coverage and the most crime detection and prevention.” Four cameras will be installed soon, though the city is expected to purchase as many as 22 more, at $50,000 to $100,000 each.
Crime emergency stats
» 233 robberies from July 12 to 30, 2006; up from 229 during same period in 2005
» 11 homicides from July 12 to 30, 2006; down from 13 in 2005
» 184 assaults with a deadly weapon from July 12 to 30, 2006; down from 192 in 2005
Source: MPD
