In response to the recent violence in downtown Madison, the city may install additional surveillance cameras throughout the campus area for police to more effectively catch criminals and monitor safety.
The city’s financial committee approved Mayor Paul Soglin’s Executive Capital Budget Monday with several amendments, including one that dedicates $100,000 to double the amount of surveillance cameras throughout Madison’s downtown.
Currently, the Madison Police Department’s officers and detectives use approximately 30 cameras to assist in tracking down and identifying suspects, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
“I firmly believe that the security cameras have proven their worth over the years,” Verveer said.
MPD Capt. Carl Gloede said surveillance cameras allow police to capture information on tape that can be used to assist criminal investigations.
Gloede said surveillance cameras on the 600 block of University Avenue as well as Lake and Frances Streets assisted detectives in identifying suspects in the May 19shooting on University Avenue that injured three people.
“It is my profound belief that without those cameras we would not be as successful in the prosecution of that case,” Gloede said.
The additional cameras will be installed on downtown streets including West Washington Avenue, Regent and Langdon Streets, according to Gloede.
Although police say the cameras will aid detectives, Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, said she is concerned the cameras could infringe on downtown residents’ privacy.
But Rich Beadles from the Madison Information Technology Departments said the videos are stored on a large server and only those who are commissioned through the MPD can have access to the cameras.
Gloede also said the surveillance cameras operate on a passive system, meaning 90 percent of the video is never actually watched.
Also at the meeting, committee members adopted an agreement between the city of Madison and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 60.
The agreement, running from March 2014 to March 2015, would decrease wages or health benefits by up to 3 percent, but would prevent further cuts in the future, according to AFSCME’s proposal.
Madison’s city council will vote on the agreement at a meeting Thursday.
