http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150723/NEWS02/707239868
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Camera surveillance stepped up in Springfield
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150723/NEWS02/707239868
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Why would the town publicize the location of the cameras? Doesn't that give any would-be criminal a heads up as to where NOT to commit some type of illegal activity?
ReplyDeleteUm, I think that is precisely the point. "Don't commit your crime here" seems like a great message for downtown. It's the same reason that property owners publicize their alarm systems or German Shepherds - these cameras deter *and* enforce.
DeleteUm, then they will commit "their crime" somewhere else in town.
DeleteExactly! Away from the downtown! You're catching on!
DeleteCrime is okay as long as it's not committed downtown? Yeah, that's brilliant, Einstein.
DeleteThanks, I think it's pretty smart but I didn't come up with it. It's a good strategy though and I'm glad you agree.
DeletePushing drug behavior out of the downtown will make locals feel safer and more willing to go get a sandwich or an ice cream cone.
It will mean that out-of-towners will be able to focus on something nice (flower planters, farmers markets etc.) when they drive through downtown, rather than having their first impressions of our town be a bunch of junkies.
It might mean that the owner of the Woolson Block will either get off his keister and sell the place, or look at his tenants with more (read: any) scrutiny.
I'm glad you agree that it's smart!
By all means, aim a camera at the Woolson Block and then watch the bad guys go across the Park Street bridge and do "business" at the intersection of Park and Mineral. They may be dangerous but they aren't stupid!
DeleteMeanwhile, enjoy your ice cream cone and the flowers. Oh, and you better hope the out-of-towners, after seeing the numerous empty storefronts on Main Street, don't take a right hand turn onto Valley Street.
About time. Now all we need is about 30 more strategically placed.
ReplyDeleteWe do need more already. Unfortunately the the dealers have moved down in front of Mason's building to conduct business out of camera's sight.
DeleteGood news!
ReplyDeleteIt really is about time...should've had cameras up long time ago..
ReplyDeleteI hope they did not get them at the same place as Irving and other recently
ReplyDeleterobbed businesses. Do the pictures they take come out looking fuzzy ?
Glad to see this in town!!
ReplyDeleteI hope they will stream these cameras so that the public can watch what is going on also. It isn't hard to create a web cam link that everyone can view the video.
ReplyDeleteI agree, turn it into a game. If you spot and report suspicious activity and it turns into an arrest, win a prize.
DeleteWhen is the plaza going to change its mind? Hint hint
ReplyDeleteUsing cameras to deter crime is a patch that isn't going to work. As was pointed out, it will simply have dealers and customers moving somewhere else. I once saw a well-known Windsor dealer parked at a pulloff in West Windsor, waiting for his transaction; a camera there would have recorded a lot of illicit sex there before he showed up even once.
ReplyDeleteWe have to legitimize and heavily regulate the production and marketing of all the banned substances the way we legitimized and regulated alcohol production after the disaster of Prohibition. Up until the 20th century, heroin was a common ingredient of nostrums for housewives (God knows, they needed it!), and it wasn't until zealots thought they could control alcoholism by eliminating alcohol that suppression of "vice" became popular.
We are now a lot more informed and could do a lot better instead of dumping billions into law enforcement rather than recovery. But we're emotionally attached to the idea of punishment for deviation.
Jeez Chuck, it didn't take you long to wander off the subject. Getting back to cameras, they really aren't effective crimestoppers except where the crime stays put - at intersections to catch people running red lights for instance. The old saw about Springfield is that we roll up the sidewalks at 9PM. That's what we need, retractable sidewalks.
DeleteAsk the businesses on Main Street if they think it is important to even just move the drug dealers somewhere else.
DeleteAre cameras perfect? No, but they are a start.
Bob, treat for the bacillus and the scrofula is cured.
DeleteThose little dweebs in front of Woolson Block - acting all hard and tough, now on film. I think it's great
ReplyDeleteCops should walk by that little group of punks with a drug sniffing dog. See if they suddenly start walk away fast.
ReplyDeleteI love the camera strategically placed on the brick building corner of main and valley! Those folks are from Holyoke and they run a "generations deep" drug ring. SPD isn't as stupid as I thought, they're catching on. Good job SPD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete