The City of Carlsbad will be adding and upgrading safety cameras in city buildings, libraries and parks in an effort to "enhance security citywide," the city council discussed on Tuesday.
The Carlsbad Police Department has taken steps to increase the use of public safety cameras and expand the use of security guards at city buildings, according to the city.
The cameras will record video without sound 24 hours a day and footage will be saved for one year unless needed for "official reasons."
CPD said this will allow them to stream video from the cameras and study surveillance tapes when incidents happen.
Cameras are already operating at Alga Norte Community Park, Faraday Center, Pine Avenue Community Center, the Safety Center and the Safety Training Center.
New camera installations and upgrades were planned for Aviara and Poinsettia community parks, City Hall and three library locations.
This comes after police were recently able to identify and arrest a person caught on surveillance video smashing windows at a senior center, according to the city. There was also an assault and car theft at Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane.
While those crimes were solved, officials said the city needs more security.
Carlsbad residents out and about on Sunday said the cameras do not give them cause for concern.
Local
“I think it’s a pretty good idea as long as it’s used for safety," Kevin Harshman told NBC 7.
Resident Nancy Giannoccaro said, “It doesn’t bother me, I’m glad that they’re there for safety."
A privacy policy will require signage on cameras to note their surveillance use. The report also said cameras would not be placed in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The new surveillance camera policy was discussed on Tuesday, but the full proposal with projected costs will be presented in January 2020.
On Tuesday, Carlsbad City Council also approved a $46,000 grant request to purchase gas masks, mask seal tester kits, and night vision helmet mounts for the police department’s SWAT team through San Diego Office of Homeland Security's (SDOHS) Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program.
