Snohomish bar owners not sold on street surveillance plan
SNOHOMISH, Wash. -- A controversial camera program received a lukewarm reception among the owners of local businesses it is supposed to help.
Police Chief John Turner says a state-of-the-art surveillance system may be just the fix for drunken street fights in the city's historic district.
According to his plan proposed months ago, the chief believes installing cameras outside bars and restaurants in the area will cut down on crime that is too often fueled by the alcohol served inside.
"I think cameras are a tool that's very effective given the types of problems that we've had," he said.
On Tuesday the surveillance system's manufacturer demonstrated the system, but few bar owners showed up.
Bar owner Bill Wildrick stayed away, claiming the problems are overblown.
"I think our streets are safe," he said.
The sour economy has already meant hard times for local restaurants, and Wildrick doesn't want to give customers another reason to stay away.
"Some say we don't see a need for surveillance on the streets," he said.
But Turner says surveillance is a fact of life.
"Whether you go to the bank, whether you go to the mall, you're on candid camera," he said.
The surveillance system under question consists of a highly- adaptable camera system with full color and streaming video. Images are crystal clear and can be monitored through an iPod.
"And it also gives us control of the camera," said Garth Brown of the manufacturer Semaphore. "So not only can we see it, but we can also control the pan, tilt and zoom functionality of the camera."
But the chief can't move forward unless bar owners sign on.
The system costs $30,000, and Turner needs merchants to cover half of the costs.
But business owners are pitching other solutions.
"Lighting the streets -- that's always a number one part of security. Perhaps increased foot patrol," Wildrick said.
Turner, however, says officials have already decided a surveillance system would be the best solution in this case.
"What we're focusing on doing is making things better," Turner said.
Police Chief John Turner says a state-of-the-art surveillance system may be just the fix for drunken street fights in the city's historic district.
According to his plan proposed months ago, the chief believes installing cameras outside bars and restaurants in the area will cut down on crime that is too often fueled by the alcohol served inside.
"I think cameras are a tool that's very effective given the types of problems that we've had," he said.
On Tuesday the surveillance system's manufacturer demonstrated the system, but few bar owners showed up.
Bar owner Bill Wildrick stayed away, claiming the problems are overblown.
"I think our streets are safe," he said.
The sour economy has already meant hard times for local restaurants, and Wildrick doesn't want to give customers another reason to stay away.
"Some say we don't see a need for surveillance on the streets," he said.
But Turner says surveillance is a fact of life.
"Whether you go to the bank, whether you go to the mall, you're on candid camera," he said.
The surveillance system under question consists of a highly- adaptable camera system with full color and streaming video. Images are crystal clear and can be monitored through an iPod.
"And it also gives us control of the camera," said Garth Brown of the manufacturer Semaphore. "So not only can we see it, but we can also control the pan, tilt and zoom functionality of the camera."
But the chief can't move forward unless bar owners sign on.
The system costs $30,000, and Turner needs merchants to cover half of the costs.
But business owners are pitching other solutions.
"Lighting the streets -- that's always a number one part of security. Perhaps increased foot patrol," Wildrick said.
Turner, however, says officials have already decided a surveillance system would be the best solution in this case.
"What we're focusing on doing is making things better," Turner said.
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