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Englewood has an eye on public safety

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By Doug Page, Staff Writer Updated 5:08 PM Friday, September 4, 2009

ENGLEWOOD — The city has spent $325,000 to add eight more security cameras to public areas around the city to increase public safety.

“They look only at public areas,” Eric Smith, city manager, said last month.

“They see no more than a person would see if they were standing at the same site.”

The city currently has 10 cameras within the city monitored by police department dispatchers. Dispatchers also have access to one camera in Clayton and another in Union.

The new cameras will be at Englewood and Englewood Hills elementary schools, Heck Community Center, the city’s service center, on Main Street near Taywood, Grossnickle Park, the city water tower, and on East Wenger near the bike path. The water tower camera will cover all of Centennial Park.

“I’m happy we have the cameras outside the schools,” Police Chief Mark Brownfield said.

So are the principals.

“They are something that will make the parents more comfortable,” said Monica Richardson, Englewood Hills principal.

Beth Wyandt, Englewood principal, said the camera outside her school can keep track of the comings and goings at the school and playground.

Smith said the cameras are not used for traffic enforcement, but can be used to alert police to situations.

“They aren’t red-light cameras. They don’t have that capability.”

The cameras have led to the arrest of a number of shoplifters driving away from local big box retailers; assisted the dispatch of fire and EMS to accident scenes; and caught an assault on real-time video.

“Our hope is that the bad guys will know we have them and go somewhere else,” Smith said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2290 or dpage@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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The fact that claims the cameras only see what a person could see is false. These cameras have a joystick available to the dispatchers that can focus in on license plates, personal features and yes to the house across the street in the room if the curtains are open. I know this from first hand experience at this particular dispatch center. Public tours are given frequently. For such a small city, Englewood has an overinflated sense of self importance it seems.

rsmpd
9:43 AM, 10/4/2009

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N. Walker,

Just in case you don't know and obviousely you don't, Englewood does not operate levies they are 100 percent tax base funded.

Hmmmm
9:44 AM, 9/11/2009

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I think that it is a good idea but the public should be able to log into a web site and take a look at what's being viewed. This would be less big brotherish if little brother could take a look at what's being done with them.

These cameras see far more than a guy standing in the same spot--unless the person is 25 to 30 ft tall and has bionic vision.

Edward
11:33 AM, 9/3/2009

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police got all the money they need when it comes to spying on you. I'll bet they will have a levy on the ballot this or next election fearing they may have to cut jobs. MORAL OF STORY "WELCOME TO THE POLICE STATE OF ENGLEWOOD"

N Walker
9:25 AM, 9/3/2009

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Keep police alert to situations... Yeah, keeping your kids under control and from not wandering the neighborhoods vandalizing and fornicating in public places. But just think; you've traded your freedom for security. Welcome to Bushwellian America!

The city needs to close the apartments behind Gopher foods. It's a blight upon your community and one of the reasons I moved.

YeahRight
9:18 AM, 9/3/2009

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