2008 Woodie Awards
Amid rise in crime, Boston Police turn to surveillance to curb drugs
Amanda Pinto
Issue date: 12/16/04 Section: News
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The Boston Police Department (BPD) hopes to reduce crime in Chinatown by introducing several surveillance cameras into the community.
According to Bill Moy, co-chair of the Chinatown Safety Committee, a meeting will be held tonight to discuss the issue.
Moy said the BPD will be placing 17 cameras in strategic locations as part of a pilot program to test the effectiveness of police-monitored cameras in Boston.
He said the cameras will be instrumental in identifying crime suspects, particularly those involved with what he called Chinatown's "drug problem."
Chinatown has long experienced high levels of illegal drug and other criminal activity.
In 1995, Emerson helped to ease crime in the areas closest to campus in clean-up efforts surrounding the college's move into what was known as the "Combat Zone," an area of Chinatown notorious for adult entertainment and prostitution.
However, crime in Chinatown has persisted. The BPD's most recent crime statistics indicate that 575 violent and non-violent crimes were committed in District A-1 (which includes downtown as well as Beacon Hill) in September 2004.
BPD Director of Communications Beverly Ford said the camera technology that will be implemented in Chinatown proved successful at the Democratic National Convention and will be useful to identify suspects.
Ford said she was unable to release any additional information about the program as the cameras will be used as part of investigations.
Moy said Chinatown will be monitored by nine hard-wired and eight mobile cameras, which will transmit their footage back to the BPD.
He said the decision to use cameras was made after a meeting between BPD officials and approximately 30 Chinatown community members.
"There was unanimous consent that the camera program was a good idea and we should go ahead and implement it," Moy said.
He said that some citizens were concerned about the potential violation of their right to privacy and that those involved with the program will be careful to respect the rights of the Chinatown community.
According to Bill Moy, co-chair of the Chinatown Safety Committee, a meeting will be held tonight to discuss the issue.
Moy said the BPD will be placing 17 cameras in strategic locations as part of a pilot program to test the effectiveness of police-monitored cameras in Boston.
He said the cameras will be instrumental in identifying crime suspects, particularly those involved with what he called Chinatown's "drug problem."
Chinatown has long experienced high levels of illegal drug and other criminal activity.
In 1995, Emerson helped to ease crime in the areas closest to campus in clean-up efforts surrounding the college's move into what was known as the "Combat Zone," an area of Chinatown notorious for adult entertainment and prostitution.
However, crime in Chinatown has persisted. The BPD's most recent crime statistics indicate that 575 violent and non-violent crimes were committed in District A-1 (which includes downtown as well as Beacon Hill) in September 2004.
BPD Director of Communications Beverly Ford said the camera technology that will be implemented in Chinatown proved successful at the Democratic National Convention and will be useful to identify suspects.
Ford said she was unable to release any additional information about the program as the cameras will be used as part of investigations.
Moy said Chinatown will be monitored by nine hard-wired and eight mobile cameras, which will transmit their footage back to the BPD.
He said the decision to use cameras was made after a meeting between BPD officials and approximately 30 Chinatown community members.
"There was unanimous consent that the camera program was a good idea and we should go ahead and implement it," Moy said.
He said that some citizens were concerned about the potential violation of their right to privacy and that those involved with the program will be careful to respect the rights of the Chinatown community.