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Oct 28, 2009 6:08 pm US/Central
Dallas Police Keeping Close Eye On Uptown Area
Selena Hernandez
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The next time you are in uptown Dallas, you should know that 'big brother' will be watching.
Dallas Police are now monitoring a stretch of McKinney Avenue from North Pearl Street to Blackburn Street by camera surveillance.
It's an effort to keep an eye out for potential crime.
The cameras are watching from the top of a traffic light pole, taking a 360-degree view of the area. The camera view has a width that spans an area the size of a football field. Every move and potential crime can be caught on camera for police to catch.
"This is a pre-emptive strike" says one local business owner.
In one of the city's more exclusive communities police are now using the aid of an extra set of eyes to catch what they sometimes can't.
"Overall crime is down in uptown area, but with this particular resource we figured we can make it even safer" says police Lt. Ricky Lewis.
All told DPD has 11 cameras positioned along McKinney avenue. All 11 are now rolling on the activity that plays out near the area's popular shops and restaurants.
"I think it's good for the area. It's a wealthier area and it keeps some of the riff-raff out" says nearby salon director Chad Rookstool.
The images are gathered and closely monitored by officers at a nearby police substation.
Kathryn Koons with Uptown Dallas, Inc. says they are trying to make a safe neighborhood safer. "What we're trying to do is work with the Dallas police department and make uptown one of the safest neighborhoods in Dallas."
But with a $160,000 price tag for additional security, not everyone is buying in to the idea.
"We don't need it, it's wasted money I think that could go to something else maybe improve the school or playgrounds" says resident Tony Torres.
But others who work and spend time in uptown say it has the support of many.
"Just knowing the cameras are there and i want to walk out to my car and its unsafe - knowing those cameras are there – yeah, they're going to catch you buddy, so just try it" says resident Kimberly George.
The surveillance system was paid for by money gathered from assessments. The system was donated to the city and supervised by Dallas Police.
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