The city of Flint is asking businesses and citizens to help come up with $420,000 to pay for the surveillance cameras.
Read more: Local, Crime
The city of Flint is asking businesses and citizens to help come up with $420,000 to fight crime. All the dollars will go into installing 13 surveillance cameras across the city. Police, business owners and citizens are saying that a test camera at the corner of Cecil and Jewell streets has made their neighborhood safer.
The Portable Overt Digital Surveillance Camera was installed as a test camera back in November. It's purpose is to help Flint police officers fight crime. The camera has a bullet proof shell and wireless capability. Police officers can actually download video from the camera directly into their vehicle laptops to review. The camera is programmed to send police all sorts of alerts like speeding and even gun shots.
Since installation, neighbors in the area report they've seen a reduction in crime and postal workers say they feel safer during their route.
Camera consultant Steven Mellish says it's a crime fighting tool Flint needs.
"We believe crime needs to be reduced," Mellish says. "We believe something needs to happen here. We see the way activities are going here and we (camera company) are from Mid Michigan. I was stationed here in the military twenty years ago, this is home for my family and children. We want to make it a safe place for all residents here."
Mayor Don Williamson is saying any sponsor who contributes atleast $30,000 can have their names or corporate logos placed on one of the pole mounted boxes.
Similar cameras being used in major cities like Chicago, Philadelphia and Baltimore have also seen a major reduction in crime since installation.
