By Andria Simmons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In 2008, Atlanta police were on the lookout for a known sexual predator who had 10 outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions.
An officer monitoring surveillance cameras in Midtown spotted a man fitting the suspect’s description walking down the street. Within minutes, he was under arrest.
Police departments throughout metro Atlanta are increasingly turning to new video camera technology --- in parks, parking lots, walking trails and roads --- to keep people from running afoul of the law.
New high-tech surveillance systems are popping up in Lilburn and Suwanee. Police in Alpharetta and Clarkston are using wireless video technology to upload footage from their patrol cars automatically. And Midtown boasts 45 cameras mounted on traffic signal poles, buildings and in the middle of intersections.
Law enforcement agencies say the cameras add an extra set of eyes and help officers nab suspects. But critics say the cameras raise privacy concerns.
“For areas like parks it adds safety, but if in general areas, it’s like spying,” said Ilene Garry, a Lilburn resident. “I think it might give people a false sense of safety that if the cameras are there, they don’t need to be on guard.”
James Darren Day, a Libertarian from Lawrenceville, would rather limit Big Brother.
“Those who believe cameras on every corner will reduce crime are not true conservatives and lovers of liberty,” Day said. “People don’t care about individual liberties or freedom anymore.”
Col. Wayne Mock, public safety manager for Midtown Blue, an off-duty police force that patrols Midtown’s self-taxing business district, said the cameras have helped officers make 700 arrests since 2005 in bank robberies, car break-ins and panhandling cases, among others.
The first surveillance camera was installed in Midtown at 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue in 2005. Now there are 45 cameras, and most of them can pan, zoom and tilt 360 degrees.
Iron Sky, the same company that installed Midtown’s newest cameras, helped College Park launch a citywide surveillance system.
The company also is working with Lilburn. City leaders recently approved the $103,000 purchase of 14 high-definition cameras to monitor City Park and the Greenway Trail, City Manager Bill Johnsa said.
“It’s a safety issue, and it’s also a manpower issue,” said Johnsa, adding that the cameras will be up and running in the next few months, with plans for more soon.
The cameras also can be accessed by officers in their vehicles.
“Let’s say we have a report of a disturbance in the park,” Lilburn Police Chief John Davidson said. “We could have an officer monitor the camera and tell the responding officer what they’re seeing.”
In Suwanee, city leaders have green-lighted video surveillance cameras at six locations, including George Pierce and Suwanee Creek parks. The cameras, which will cost $54,000, will be confined to parking areas.
“When you go to a park, it’s not uncommon for parents to leave valuables in the car when they watch their kids play soccer or football,” City Manager Marty Allen said. “Criminals are wise to that, and we’d like to reduce their success.”
Atlanta is applying for a stimulus grant that would include funding for 140 surveillance cameras for recreation centers. A city spokeswoman said Atlanta may even include funding for the cameras in the city’s budget for next fiscal year.
Video surveillance has been around for decades. But newer digital technology allows for higher quality videos that can be stored more easily and accessed more quickly, with less chance for tampering.
Video segments can also be coded and later retrieved by searching an officer’s name, a case number or a date and time.
“Years ago, the police department would have to download footage, change tapes or change DVDs,” said Frank Rotondo, executive director of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. “Right now it is automatically downloaded, so every step we take towards progressive technology really helps law enforcement out.”
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said more cities should use surveillance cameras to augment limited police presence.
“We would encourage as many municipalities as possible to use it, because what we’ve found is that the technology can make up for human resources,” Howard said.
In court, video can become critical evidence as long as it is clear enough to identify a suspect. Melvin Bardwell, 25, pleaded guilty in June to a voluntary manslaughter charge for shooting a teenager in Midtown in 2009. Bardwell made the plea after being confronted with a video from a convenience store and Midtown Blue cameras, Howard said.
Atlanta criminal defense attorney Steve Sadow said as surveillance footage has become sharper, cases with video evidence have become more difficult to combat in court. However, attorneys can still challenge the context.
“You would think it’s a slam-dunk, but there’s always the explanation for what didn’t get on tape,” Sadow said.
In Clarkston, digital in-car video systems have proven useful at defending the police department against civilian complaints. Cameras were installed in February in all six of the city’s police patrol cars. They cost about $37,000 --- money from a federal grant --- and were purchased from Digital Ally.
The company has sold similar equipment to Sheriff’s offices in Barrow and DeKalb counties as well as the Doraville, Norcross and Lawrenceville police departments.
A camera inside the rear-view mirror of the car activates when the blue lights are turned on, or the officer can activate it manually, according to Capt. Christine Hudson of Clarkston police. Each time the officer pulls up to the police station, the video automatically uploads onto the department’s server.
“When a citizen comes in to make a complaint on an officer, we tell them you can come in and view the tape,” Hudson said. “Nine times out of 10 they don’t want to see it. So it works both ways, it protects the citizen and it protects the officer.”
The cities of Duluth and Alpharetta, and the DUI units for both DeKalb and Gwinnett county police departments also have digital in-car video camera technology. Cobb County is planning to install new in-car video systems in its 600-car fleet within the next year.
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution