Brooklyn Boro

Security cameras coming to Brooklyn to help investigate local crimes

BP Adams Funds Pilot Program ‘Operation Safe Shopper’

July 13, 2016 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams watches surveillance footage with Rabbi Eli Cohen, executive director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, from a camera installed outside Mr Clean It, a dry cleaning business in Crown Heights. Photo Credit: Patrick Rheaume/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on Tuesday unveiled Operation Safe Shopper, a partnership between local civic organizations and the NYPD in which he has funded the deployment of security cameras in neighborhoods across Brooklyn to assist with the investigation of local crimes.

Through this pilot program, Adams has allocated $2,500 each in discretionary funds to the Alliance for Coney Island, Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project Local Development Corporation (LDC) in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) in Brownsville, as well as the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID. These grants have been designated toward the purchase of security camera technology that will monitor street activity.

Adams showcased some of the new equipment at Mr Clean It, a dry cleaning business in Crown Heights, and discussed the impact of the new program to advance safety along the borough’s commercial corridors.

“Too often when criminal activity occurs along our commercial corridors, police waste precious time surveying local businesses to see if they have cameras that may or may not have filmed actions related to the crime,” said Adams. “Operation Safe Shopper is a smart deployment of security technology that partners key community stakeholders in the greater pursuits of justice and crime deterrence, all while promoting safer shopping experiences that advance local economic activity.”

Through Operation Safe Shopper, participating local civic organizations have agreed to identify storefront locations that provide optimal views of street activity for the installation of street-facing security cameras, through consultation with their local police precinct, as well as to purchase the security camera systems. Selected businesses are responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and repair of their security cameras, as well as their registration with their local police precinct. In the event of a police investigation, businesses will make video footage recorded by the security cameras available to the NYPD.

Meredith Phillips Almeida, executive director of the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project LDC, thanked Adams for his efforts. “We created a program area two years ago to specifically address safety issues on our commercial corridor,” Phillips Almeida said. “We’re serious about maintaining an environment where all who live on or visit Myrtle Avenue can feel secure.”

“We are really pleased to have these funds from the borough president to help improve the safety of children at Washington Park and along our commercial corridor,” said Mark Caserta, executive director of the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.

Local community board and precinct community council leaders joined in applauding the launch of Operation Safe Shopper.

Adams expressed his desire to expand Operation Safe Shopper pending an evaluation of the pilot program.

 

—Information courtesy of BP Adams’ Office

 

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