Crime Cameras Needed
A man who saw a police officer use himself and his patrol car to shield youths from gunfire called on the city Monday to install video cameras in police vehicles.
Speaking to the City Council, Dave Morales said he witnessed the act of bravery from his porch as seven or eight shots rang out right in front of him at Stebbins Place and West Third Street on March 14.
“It was really traumatic,” Morales said, adding, “I was impressed by his professionalism.”
Morales said one or two of the youths may have been shot, but the officer’s act prevented all from suffering harm. He said a camera in the vehicle could have served both to identify the perpetrators and to “increase validity for insurance purposes.”
Council President Rayland Van Blake said the officer should be identified and honored as a good example. Councilman Don Davis asked Police Chief Edward Santiago and Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig to find out the officer’s identity.
Councilman Elliott Simmons, who represents the 4th Ward where the incident occurred, endorsed the idea of putting cameras in police cars. When Davis asked about the cost, Simmons said he would not want to put a dollar sign on the life of his daughter or anyone else.
Community activist Flor Gonzalez also spoke in favor of cameras in police vehicles and said her organization, the Latin American Coalition, is working with city taxi companies that want to put cameras in their vehicles for similar purposes. She said cameras could cost about $900 each.
Gonzalez also talked about the March 13 fatal shooting in Municipal Parking Lot 6, where an innocent bystander was killed in crossfire between youth groups. She said her group was working with the family to cover funeral expenses for the victim and commended Santiago for helping the mother to deal with the loss of her son.
The death of Bukhtiar Katchi was the first homicide in 2007.
The city has made plans to have street surveillance cameras downtown for years, but issues of how the cameras would be monitored have kept the program from becoming a reality.
--Bernice Paglia
Speaking to the City Council, Dave Morales said he witnessed the act of bravery from his porch as seven or eight shots rang out right in front of him at Stebbins Place and West Third Street on March 14.
“It was really traumatic,” Morales said, adding, “I was impressed by his professionalism.”
Morales said one or two of the youths may have been shot, but the officer’s act prevented all from suffering harm. He said a camera in the vehicle could have served both to identify the perpetrators and to “increase validity for insurance purposes.”
Council President Rayland Van Blake said the officer should be identified and honored as a good example. Councilman Don Davis asked Police Chief Edward Santiago and Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig to find out the officer’s identity.
Councilman Elliott Simmons, who represents the 4th Ward where the incident occurred, endorsed the idea of putting cameras in police cars. When Davis asked about the cost, Simmons said he would not want to put a dollar sign on the life of his daughter or anyone else.
Community activist Flor Gonzalez also spoke in favor of cameras in police vehicles and said her organization, the Latin American Coalition, is working with city taxi companies that want to put cameras in their vehicles for similar purposes. She said cameras could cost about $900 each.
Gonzalez also talked about the March 13 fatal shooting in Municipal Parking Lot 6, where an innocent bystander was killed in crossfire between youth groups. She said her group was working with the family to cover funeral expenses for the victim and commended Santiago for helping the mother to deal with the loss of her son.
The death of Bukhtiar Katchi was the first homicide in 2007.
The city has made plans to have street surveillance cameras downtown for years, but issues of how the cameras would be monitored have kept the program from becoming a reality.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 10:06 PM
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