Plans to install 21 additional security cameras in different neighborhoods within the city of Syracuse are being finalized after months of delays.

This is the second phase of the proposal to install security cameras in the city. Nine cameras were installed on the Near Westside as a part of the first phase, The Post-Standard reported April 2.

The current phase plans to install security cameras along Midland Avenue, Butternut Street, South Avenue, Bellevue Avenue and in the Central Village area, The Post-Standard reported.

“There are a lot of steps for approval for actually installing the cameras,” said Syracuse Common Councilor Jake Barrett, who’s chairman of the council’s public safety committee.

The installation of the cameras is a part of the Syracuse Police Department’s Criminal Observation and Protection System, which aims to prevent crime, assist investigations and prosecute crimes that occur within the neighborhoods, according to SPD’s website.

Cameras are placed to monitor locations that have high concentrations of violent gun crimes, which, for the last few years, has been the Near Westside neighborhood, according to SPD’s website.

“SPD will own and operate all of the cameras,” Barrett said. “The cameras are located in hot spot areas with high gun violence around the city.”

The camera installations were stalled due to a long-standing issue with the Syracuse City School District concerning the use of the district’s network, The Post-Standard reported.

For a time, SCSD officials expressed concerns about the project because of state and federal guidelines. Specifically, they were concerned about the use of federal education funds and maintaining the security of student data and personnel records, The Post-Standard reported Feb. 13.

In the first phase, those within the program intended to monitor crimes and occurrences on the Near Westside while also saving money by fusing the infrastructures of the SCSD and SPD networks, according to SPD’s website.

These areas include the second-phase libraries, schools and parks, among others, Barrett said.

“Access to a building with an already established technology host is another overlay in determining where the cameras are placed,” Barrett said.

Exact dates for the installation of the cameras are not known, since approvals depend on the technical and administrative issues that need to be ironed out, Barrett said.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and Superintendent Sharon Contreras later came to an agreement to continue the installation of the project, The Post-Standard reported.

Dan Cowen, a common council candidate, commented on the status of the installation.

“I applaud the SCSD diligence in protecting their funding, but the delays are also a shame,” he said in an email.

Published on April 10, 2013 at 12:33 am

Contact Jen: jbundy@syr.edu