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Tampa to create “perimeter” of security cameras downtown

  By securitycameradirectory | February 20, 2012 - 5:06 pm | security cameras
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TAMPA –Ahead of the 2012 Republican National Convention, Tampa officials plan to festoon downtown with security cameras to keep a watchful eye on protesters.This week, the city began soliciting bids from private security companies to install a yet-to-be-determined number of cameras at yet-to-be-disclosed locations in the downtown.Greg Spearman, the city’s purchasing director, said the plan is to “set up a perimeter” of cameras around the downtown and venues for the event, including the St. Pete Times Forum and Tampa Convention Center, but said exact locations might not be disclosed.

“The anarchists could use that information to disable cameras or plan actions in other areas,” he said. “We know they’re watching and we don’t want to put the city at risk.”

Spearman said he didn’t know who would be monitoring the cameras, saying that was likely to be decided by U.S. Secret Service, which is overseeing security preparations.

He said the city likely will have to cover some upfront costs for installing the camera system but pointed out that the Republican National Committee ultimately will be picking up the tab.

“The RNC has assured us that they will have adequate funding,” Spearman said.


Next August, Tampa hosts the 2012 GOP Convention, when the party’s delegates will nominate their party’s presidential candidate. The event is expected to draw more than 50,000 delegates, politicians and news reporters to the Bay area.

As with national political conventions in previous years, however, the weeklong event is also expected to draw tens of thousands of protestors from throughout the country.

At the 2008 GOP Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, more than 800 protestors and bystanders, including journalists covering the clashes with police, were arrested during street demonstrations. Mass arrests also were made at the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver, when Barack Obama was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.

Officials in both cities used surveillance cameras to capture images of protests, in some cases for use as evidence against demonstrators accused of committing violent acts.

Spearman said the city wants to have the cameras up and operating by May 2012.

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Original author, cwade@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7679 for Tampa Bay Online

Security Surveillance Cameras Everywhere

  By securitycameradirectory | February 20, 2012 - 5:05 pm | security cameras
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In a society that has seen privacy devalued by social networking and reality television, it’s still unsettling to think that everywhere you go in downtown Detroit, a camera will be watching.

Detroit Police hope to bolster safety in the central business district by connecting a network of 350 security cameras to a central viewing post to track activity on the streets, search out wanted criminal suspects, check parking lots and monitor crowds.

Police Chief Ralph Godbee says he is responding to increased incidents of crime downtown. The department is also establishing “safe houses” throughout the central city — buildings with open doors where visitors can take refuge if they feel threatened.

On one hand, Godbee is to be commended for a rapid response to a problem that could devastate downtown’s comeback.


Reports have been coming in of fights, shootings and traffic issues around downtown nightspots. The key to attracting visitors to businesses, restaurants and events is to guarantee a safe environment.

Godbee is also freeing up to 50 additional police officers per shift from desk jobs, replacing them with civilians so the cops can be out on the streets where they belong.

Crime remains a major obstacle to the city’s revival. Detroit posted 180 homicides by July 10, on a pace to 350 for the year, which would be the most in a decade.

So credit Godbee for being proactive.

On the other hand, the surveillance of an entire region of the city raises civil liberties questions that ought to be diligently explored.

It’s not clear whether all of the tapes from the security cameras will be kept and archived, or erased in a continuous loop.

Godbee says officers monitoring the cameras will be looking for wanted suspects. Trying to pick them out from a security camera image of a downtown street raises the real possibility of innocent citizens being abused in cases of mistaken identity.

The images captured by the cameras would be admissible in court if subpoenaed.

At the very least, the city should post signs throughout the surveillance area alerting visitors that they are being watched.

In addition, policies aimed at protecting privacy rights should be put in place, including requirements that tapes be erased if they show no evidence of criminal activity.

There should also be no broad data base of innocent citizens kept for future use by a facial recognition system.

Safeguards also must be taken to make sure officers don’t use the monitors as an excuse to harass law abiding citizens.

Surrendering so much privacy to the state requires a deep trust in government.

Detroit’s government, particularly the Police Department, has not fully regained the trust lost during the Kilpatrick years.

Godbee insists that the intent is not to invade anyone’s privacy, and we believe that’s the case.

But he should be on guard against unintentional invasions, and mindful of the great potential for abuse presented by this network of cameras.