Oakland Installs Public Surveillance Cameras

KRON 4
Nov. 03, 2005

OAKLAND (KRON) -- Two surveillance cameras have been installed in public places in the city's Fruitvale District to try to deter crime in the area.

Oakland City Council president and mayoral candidate Ignacio De La Fuente, who represents the district, said one camera has been installed at a plaza at International Blvd. and 34th Ave., and another has been installed in the 4000 block of International Blvd.

Three other cameras, which will bring the total to five, will be installed in the next week or so, he said.

De La Fuente said the cameras are aimed at deterring crimes such as burglaries, prostitution and drug dealing.

The cameras are aimed at shaming criminals as well at helping law enforcement officials arrest and prosecute them, he said.

"The merchants in my district are stepping up to say they will not tolerate crime in their area," De La Fuente said.

De La Fuente said the installation of the cameras is part of a pilot project in which the city is using redevelopment agency funds to purchase cameras and then lend them to area merchants who agree to grant the Police Department access to the video footage when a crime occurs.

At each camera location, the city is installing signs that read "Your activities may be videotaped" to further deter criminal activity.

De La Fuente said a similar effort employed in San Francisco by Mayor Gavin Newsom led to a 60 percent reduction in calls for service for the area.

De La Fuente said the areas the cameras videotape will be visible on the Internet for people who are granted access via a password and Web address.

The commander of the Oakland Police Department's police service area 4 and his crime reduction team were trained last week in how to use the cameras, De La Fuente said.

They will have the authority to manipulate the cameras to ensure that problem areas are targeted, he said.

Officials at the American Civil Liberties Union weren't immediately available to comment on the installation of the surveillance cameras.

De La Fuente said he hasn't received any complaints yet from people who might be concerned that the cameras violate residents' right to privacy.

He said, "How about the invasion of the rights of the merchants and the people who live in the neighborhood?"

De La Fuente said, "Our job is to use whatever tools we have" to try to reduce crime in Oakland.

Bay City News contributed to this report.