The city of Collegedale could soon be encompassed by the ever-watchful eye of video cameras in repsonse to citizen requests for the protective measure in Veteran’s Park and along the Greenway.
Southern Adventist University, which makes up a large portion of the city’s land mass, already has plans to install cameras around the college campus, and the city will likely piggyback its efforts as part of that network.
“It’s something we as the police department and the school have been looking at for years, not just at Veteran’s Park,” Collegedale Police Chief Brian Hickman said.
An engineer’s report and recommendation for the city is expected to be presented at the next Collegedale Commission workshop.
SAU plans to begin installing cameras this month, according to campus security director Kevin Penrod.
The first cameras will be placed in exterior positions around campus, including the Greenway entrance near the school. Interior cameras will be phased in later. Within three years, the total number should be approxiamtely 200, Penrod said.
“We’re excited about being able to get started with that,” he said.
Having spent 23 years as a police officer, Penrod said he is making sure things are done right. Cameras will be top of the line, able to provide at least 40 percent facial recognition up to 150 feet away. The police department will have constant access to the images, although they will be recorded instead of watched live.
“A lot of [cameras] aren’t as expensive as you think they are,” said Derrick Whitfield of Excalibur Integrated Systems, which outfitted the city of Chattanooga with a similar security network.
He added that Collegedale could help cut costs by becoming part of a more regional system, possibly sharing space on Chattanooga’s network or enticing other entities in signing on for a package deal.
“It sounds like that’s the direction we need to march toward,” City Manager Ted Rogers said. “In my mind, a partnership seems to be in order.”
The local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which supplies the park with new flags regularly, has offered to help with costs. Grants are also a possibility, according to Whitfield.
“I think there are those that want something now to protect us from another attack,” Vice Mayor Tim Johnson said, “but we need a long-term solution that’s in the best interests of the city and the taxpayers. Historically I think we’ve always done the minimal. I really hope we go very complete. Whatever we do I think we need to look at the future.”
Greenbriar Cove may also be brought to the table to discuss measures and options.