By Katie Curley Katzman
NEWBURYPORT — If you're thinking about breaking the law in the downtown, you may want to think again. With the help of new, state-of-the-art cameras, police will soon have a new way to keep watch on the downtown and the waterfront.
Through a state Community Policing grant, Newburyport police have installed three cameras in strategic locations around the downtown and waterfront.
With the ability to see Inn Street, State Street and the waterfront areas of the city, the cameras are aimed at high traffic places in the downtown area.
"This is a positive thing and another tool for our toolbox to use in solving crimes and keeping people safe," Marshal Thomas Howard said. "This is pro-active and comes with strict policies regarding who can use them and the data collected."
The benefit of the cameras will be for deterrence of crime in the downtown area as well as aiding in investigations when crimes do occur. Howard used a number of examples of crimes the cameras could catch or protect, including vandalism, the stabbing of a teen on the waterfront, a million-dollar yacht that was cut loose from the town docks and shoplifting activity.
He noted that a security camera in Port Plaza last year was the key tool in capturing a bank robber. Police had videotape of the man pacing back and forth by his car before entering the bank.
The three cameras can rotate 360 degrees and are able to capture things in very detailed screen shots that police can later use.
The camera's live feed is tied directly to the dispatch center at the police station so if a call is received, the dispatcher can see exactly what is going on at the scene. Lieutenants will also be able to monitor the cameras from their desks when needed.
"Only 5 percent of the time the dispatcher will really look at this," Howard said. "But if they did see something or if a call comes in, they can be right there alerting police on what is happening."
Howard said the cameras will mean cost savings for the department in overtime hours investigators now work trying to solve crimes.
"It can also be used in hit-and-runs and if someone is trying to engage in some acts with kids," Howard said, noting one of the cameras can pick up Inn Street and areas where families gather. "In the situation, police can identify them quicker. It's a great tool and is money wisely spent."
Howard said over the past year, vandalism in the downtown has escalated and makes the cameras even more useful as the city gears up for tourism this spring and summer.
"Business owners spend a lot of money to spruce up the downtown and there is an ongoing issue with vandalism," Howard said. "The hope is, the cameras will be able to identify the people responsible. It's another set of eyes."
The total cost of the cameras was roughly $35,000, and Howard foresees additional cameras through other grants in the future should the first three be successful.
More work on policing the harbor will be coming through Homeland Security in the future.
"This is the future," Howard said. "People are on camera all the time. We're not different than anywhere else."
