SAVE OUR SAVANNAH

04/06/06 Article 27

Dear Members and Friends,

It is becoming increasingly clear that cameras, computers and lighting are highly effective methods in reducing crime. To quote one of our members, cameras are a “force multiplier” to the efforts of the police in cities where cameras are installed. “You would think that our City and County Officials would be leading the charge to implement cameras and lights in Savannah.”

Save our Savannah supports a wide range of crime reduction techniques. The time has come to coordinate many of the different ideas that have been put forth. Over the next week, SOS will outline the need for multiple projects proceeding independently and simultaneously. We will need to appoint project managers for 10 or more projects and to solicit participation for each project. Many of you have repeatedly offered to help and now is the time. We need to crank up SOS so that funding for all of these Public Safety Programs can be accomplished immediately via C-SPLOST (Crime Special Local Option Sales Tax). All of us will need to be involved to make this happen.

1) the enclosed comments (below) from police departments in cities where cameras have been installed, and

2) one more article.

The article, entitled “Caught on Camera: Surveillance Devices Make it Tough for Crooks”; can be viewed via the Wisconsin State Journal’s website by clicking on the title.

The comments from Police Departments nationwide are as follows:

Cincinnati Police Department

• In one neighborhood, felony drug arrests quadrupled.
• A certain street that had previously been dubbed “Murder Alleyâ€? due to homicides has not had a shooting since the cameras were installed.
• Police say that the cameras are most beneficial in areas where citizen involvement is very low.
• Police say cameras have improved investigations of drug deals, assaults and prostitution.

• Areas in which cameras are used have seen a 26% drop in overall crime (175 cameras total).

• In the seven months since the initial 30 cameras were installed on light poles, calls to police relating to narcotics from the immediate areas have declined by 76%, and serious crimes have dropped by 17%.
• Arrests on the police beats covered by cameras rose by 60%.
• The surveillance network has increased to 2,000 cameras.

• In the first six months crime rates dropped:
  • Homicides – 38%
  • Shootings – 50%
  • Robberies – 14%
  • Major Assault Crimes – 9%
• Conviction rate 100%

• Service calls were cut in half where seven cameras were placed in a neighborhood plagued by drugs and gangs.
• Police officers say people used to buy and sell drugs openly on the streets. Since cameras have been installed, according to the police, the activity has virtually stopped.