Aug 14, 2007 7:05 pm US/Eastern
Newark Unveils High-Tech Plan To Fight Violence
Hopes To Have Same Success As Neighboring East Orange
by Christine Sloan
NEWARK (CBS) ―
Newark is about to saturate city streets with high-tech surveillance cameras. The cameras, which instantly respond to the sound of gunfire, are already a success in other cities.
Residents hope this will be Newark's turning point in the war on crime.
The city already has two dozen surveillance cameras on its streets, but in the wake of the murders of three college students in a schoolyard, Mayor Cory Booker on Tuesday unveiled a $3.2 million program to install 50 more cameras in the most crime-ridden neighborhoods.
"You have eyes on the streets all over beginning to pick out incidents but even more importantly to detect crime before it happens by looking for suspicious activity," Booker said.
Video obtained by CBS 2 HD shows a youth striking a man sitting on a couch numerous times. The incident happened near Ferry Street, and police were able to catch the suspects and send an ambulance.
"I think it will be a good idea, surveillance cameras, because Newark is scary," resident Shavonne Thornton said.
Added resident Audrey Blunt: "Better Big Brother watching than having caskets to put in the ground."
East Orange has a similar surveillance system, installed here almost two years ago. Officials here say since then there has been a dramatic drop in crime. The system is so advanced that even police officers sitting in their cars can monitor almost every angle of a street.
"So far this year we've seen a 38 percent decline," said East Orange Police director Jose Cordero said.
East Orange already uses acoustic sensors that pinpoint gunfire. Newark plans to use the same system.
"Once the gunshot is detected it corresponds with our camera," East Orange Deputy Chief Ronald Borgo said. "We'll be able to view our cameras and see where the people are going."
A tool to gather evidence and to prevent crime. Newark hopes to have it up and running by the summer.
Newark is receiving money for the project -- from a group called the Newark Foundation.
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