Surveillance cameras to monitor City Heights park

Sign On San Diego
May. 10, 2006

SAN DIEGO – Two surveillance cameras will be installed at a City Heights park as part of a pilot program to deter crime in San Diego's urban neighborhoods, city leaders announced Tuesday.

The surveillance cameras will be placed atop poles at the City Heights Community Park and Recreation Center, at Fairmount Avenue and Landis Street, to monitor for criminal activity in the area. They are expected to be installed at the end of the month.

“The cameras will help in the prevention of gang activity, graffiti, assaults and street robberies,” Councilman Brian Maienschein said at a morning news conference at City Hall.

Police personnel at the San Diego Police Department's Mid-City Police Station who are recovering from work-related injuries will control and monitor the cameras, according to SDPD Capt. Bob Kanaski.

The cameras and associated equipment were funded by a $50,000 donation by the philanthropic group Price Charities.

The City Council's Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee is scheduled Wednesday to discuss the larger proposed Mid-City Camera Surveillance Crime Reduction Pilot Project.

Maienschein said if the two initial cameras prove successful, the city will consider installing more along University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard to combat violence, gangs, drugs and prostitution.

Other areas being considered are downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter and Pacific Beach, according to a report to the City Council.

“The camera system at the park will be a test to determine the viability of the cameras in other areas of the city,” he said.

Beth Givens, director of the nonprofit San Diego advocacy group Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, urged the city to adopt a policy to protect privacy rights in advance of the proliferation of the cameras.

“I've got some real concerns about video cameras,” she said. “The concerns are that essentially we become a surveillance society. That everywhere we go we will be watched by cameras.”

Givens said the city shouldn't “blanket” neighborhoods with the devices.

She also expressed concern that police will begin using the cameras to pursue lesser offenses like littering and loitering.

“Once they are installed for a very specific purpose, my concern is that they will see how useful they are and use them for other purposes,” she said.

Maienschein said “strong” policies and procedures will be in place to ensure the public's privacy is maintained, including disposing of images after five days unless they are needed as evidence in a crime.

Signs will also be hung to indicate the presence of the devices.

Maienschein cited the Los Angeles Police Department's use of surveillance video cameras at MacArthur Park, where he said overall crime was down 61 percent and homicides dropped from 160 to 27 in a one-year period.

“Cameras can never replace officers in the field, but they are one more tool that law enforcement can use,” he said.

Councilwoman Toni Atkins, who represents the City Heights neighborhood, said a community video surveillance program will help cut crime.

“I am optimistic the use of video surveillance, in high crime areas, selected areas, with community support, will eradicate illegal activity despite the shortage of public safety officials,” she said.