By Katie Farrell Lovett
NEWBURYPORT — Newly installed downtown surveillance cameras will undergo a 90-day trial period after city councilors and members of the public voiced concerns over being videotaped in a public location.
Mayor Donna Holaday said yesterday she has met with Marshal Tom Howard to learn more about the surveillance equipment that was purchased through a state grant. Questions and concerns have been raised by members of the community as to why the cameras are necessary and how the images will be monitored and used, the mayor said.
Holaday said she and Howard agreed to check in after a 90-day test period, once the cameras are in use, to evaluate what sort of data was uncovered and how the information is being used.
City councilors Barry Connell and Tom Jones both voiced worry over the presence of the cameras during the City Council meeting on Monday.
Connell, an at-large councilor, called the cameras "unnecessary" and called for more discussion more they are activated.
He told his fellow councilors he has "very strong reservations" about the use of the equipment and its impact on personal freedoms, noting that the cameras will film citizens in a public location that is city owned.
While stores like Wal-Mart film their customers, Connell said, citizens have a choice to go to that store and be filmed. If cameras are up downtown, they do not have a choice to be filmed, he said.
Connell said he had a discussion with Howard and asked about who can access the images, how look the images will remain in the system and how the information will be applied.
The Newburyport police recently placed the three cameras in strategic locations around the downtown and waterfront, after receiving funding for the devices through a state Community Policing grant. The cameras are not yet operational since the software installation is not yet complete.
The cameras are aimed at high traffic places in the downtown area, including the waterfront and Inn Street. Marshal Tom Howard noted recently that the cameras will be a tool in preventing crimes downtown and aid in criminal investigations. They 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.
The mayor said Friday that safeguards are in place where few officers will have access to the recordings. While the city does have a low crime rate, certain crimes are on the rise, the mayor said. Vandalism is a growing problem, she said, and because the waterfront can be an isolated area, it needs to be monitored, and boats need to be protected.
Holaday said the cameras cannot look into the windows of residences downtown.
The mayor said she understands concerns raised about the presence of "Big Brother," but said this type of technology is being used throughout the country. It can save police a lot of time in solving crimes and resolving incidents, the mayor said.
