Philadelphia police want to monitor private security cams

    The department’s proposed budget includes a plan for the city to get video from privately owned security cameras via the Internet.

    The city of Philadelphia is going to expand its use of video cameras to fight crime.

    There could be thousands of video cameras monitoring the city streets under a new program proposed by the police department. The department’s proposed budget includes a plan for the city to get video from privately owned security cameras via the Internet.

    Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says not every camera would not have a pair of eyes on it 24 hours a day.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    “I do not think it’s an efficient use of police officers or police resources to have someone sitting there 24-7 live, monitoring that many cameras. You can do it with a small amount [but] when you start to get that many cameras you have to be able to turn the camera on when it is needed.”

    The Commissioner says the department will record the cameras for playback if officers miss something. The system also would use facial recognition technology to compare faces caught on camera with the faces of known fugitives.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal