It is unfortunate that our City Council is so opposed to the Northampton Police Department’s request for municipally operated security cameras downtown.
The fact of the matter is not only do security cameras help the police solve crimes (see the Anthony Baye arson case, as well as the most recent alleged arsonist who was arrested with help from the video of a business), they also prevent crimes by acting as a strong deterrent.
With all due respect to the business owner who said that cameras were not necessary because she would report any suspicious activity, nobody is around 24 hours a day, seven days a week the way cameras are.
A person’s expectation of privacy is less in public places, such as downtown streets. By contrast, a person’s expectation of privacy is very high inside his/her own home. The benefit of cameras far outweighs their “invasion of privacy.”
We have an excellent Police Department. However, if you want police to be able to do their job in the most effective manner possible, you have to give them the tools that they need. For example, when the Police Department needed to move into a modern building, as their previous building was way too small, the city came through with the funding.
Simply put, the cameras will allow police to do their job more effectively and will not only help solve crimes, but also prevent them. The next time there is a serious unsolved crime downtown, I wonder if the city councilors who opposed the cameras will regret their opposition.
James Winston
Northampton