Long Beach installs new surveillance cameras to catch criminals
LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- After years of calm north of downtown Long Beach, neighbors are alarmed.
"It has gone real crazy, real bad, a lot of shootings," resident Maricela Castro says.
"The problem is it is happening where there's innocent kids, women, children around in broad daylight," says neighbor Paul Moore.
Recently, bullets went flying near Washington Middle School. In a separate incident last month, a 16-year-old was wounded on Crystal Court.
The city of Long Beach is hoping to bolster safety by creating a hot zone surrounding the school. In a key move, 18 security cameras will be installed at the request of Long Beach Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez.
On Friday, she detailed the deployment of the $100,000 dollar investment at a meeting of the Neighborhood Leadership Program, a network of non-profits, clergy and city agencies.
"We will be adding signs that says you are on camera, so it makes it more present, it makes it more real for people," explained Gonzalez stressing the deterrent effect.
The new cameras will be hooked up to a wider system throughout Long Beach that includes not just public cameras, but private ones too.
Long Beach Police Comm. Bob Smith points to Long Beach COP, Common Operating Picture. It started as a network of 400 cameras, scores of them operated by retailers. Another roll-out in 2013 added 60 more.
"To follow up on an investigation or a crime, to be able to identify a perpetrator and capture that perpetrator, (surveillance video) is invaluable," Smith says.
He says he's heard no objections from anyone concerned about privacy.
"Fine with me. Catch 'em. Catch 'em in the act," Moore said.
