When I worked at the contractor that processed for the Lotto America here, they monitored a remote computer room using a webcam. Is it possible with the cheapness of webcams, that standard video cameras are not the attractive option for surveillance? Jim Mork Cooper Neighborhood
They effectively are webcams. Just newer & higher quality. They are connected via a wireless digital system to a monitoring center, to be staffed by police reserve officers, who can communicate with police dispatchers or officers on patrol. The cameras can be remotely controlled to pan, tilt, zoom in, etc.
If surveillance cameras were to show police treating civilians roughly, I'm sure incriminating footage on tape would be promptly erased or disposed of with the the blessings of both our Mayor and City Council.It's been suggested that the output from these cameras could be made available on the internet, so that anyone could watch them. That would also make it possible for anyone (like Communities United...) to set up their own independent recording center.
---------Peter Schmitz CARAG
I'm not sure I approve of this; I think that maintaining the web bandwidth to broadcast all these camera video streams could be costly for the city.
Also, I wonder if there might be legal privacy implications -- it's one thing to have security officers watching you on camera, quite another when it is broadcast available to anyone. Courts have ruled that when out in a public place, you don't have privacy rights, for example, anyone can take a picture of you, so I suppose this is much the same, and we would win in Court. Still, it would cost the city legal fees to fight this.
Tim Bonham, Ward 12, Standish Ericsson
TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.)
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