Big Brother’s mechanical eyeballs are proliferating around the municipality.
Chatham-Kent council voted to add new closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to five parks in various locations in the municipality.
West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan successfully put forward a motion to see cameras added to Kingston Park and Thamesgrove Conservation Area in Chatham, as well as Memorial Park in Tilbury, Library Park in Wallaceburg and McGregor-Kinsmen Park in Blenheim.
In all instances, concerns over vandalism and mischief were the prime reasons behind the proposal.
A total of $94,000 will be used from strategic reserves to fund the added cameras.
They join a list of CCTV devices in other parts of the municipality, including in Tecumseh Park, downtown Chatham, Wallaceburg, Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury, Dresden, Wheatley and Thamesville.
Chatham-Kent Police Chief Kirk Earley said the cameras have been instrumental in solving crimes, as well as locating missing individuals.
“I don’t think any of us could have predicted when it started how successful and crucial CCTV has played for our police service and for public safety,” he told council. “It takes sometimes hours to do things down to minutes.”
He said the deterrence and detection the cameras offer helps the service utilize its manpower more efficiently.
However, he stressed the cameras do not replace boots on the ground.
“This does not replace police officers. This augments and compliments our resources,” Earley said. “We are in the people business and we need people to do that. No matter how much technology we purchase, that will never replace police officers walking the beat and driving around on patrol.”
Earley pointed to how CCTV cameras can deter criminal activity.
“Look at Tecumseh Park. Once CCTV was in place, it reduced calls for service significantly,” he said.
The park had been the site of drug use, vandalism, and violent crime.
In his report to council, Earley said key successes with the use of CCTV include locating several missing persons; tracking an assault and robbery; identifying vehicles involved in organized crime, or those that failed to remain at collisions; uncovering vehicles and individuals tied to a major auto theft ring; debunking a claim of an active shooter; tracking down a missing firearm; and more.
Councillors seemed enamoured with the idea of adding more cameras to communities. South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci suggested exploring adding the cameras to other areas, such as Erieau and Mitchell’s Bay.
Gord Quinton, chief financial officer for the municipality, said throwing cameras up everywhere will not lead to an end in crime.
“There is the part of diminishing returns. If a park is having very few issues, does it make sense to spend $12,000 on cameras?” he asked. “It makes sense for police to be reporting back to council on where we are having issues and would having a CCTV camera there be beneficial.”
Not everyone at the table was in favour of the added CCTV coverage. North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville said she’d prefer to see the funding fuel more officers.
“The costing is a deterrent for me. I would rather see funds go towards frontline staffing. Get more boots on the ground in our smaller communities,” she said.
Jubenville was also against the use of CCTV cameras when the matter came to council in 2024 to expand on a 2020 pilot project, expressing concerns over surveillance and the general public.
At the July 14 meeting, she asked when facial recognition software was used. Earley said it isn’t.
“I wouldn’t call it facial recognition. It’s AI software,” he said.
