City of Baltimore - File #: 09-0107R

• File #: 09-0107R
• Version: 0
• Name: Performance Measures - "Blue Light Cameras" - Crime Prevention
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Withdrawn
• File created: 2/9/2009
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 1/11/2010
• Title: Performance Measures - "Blue Light Cameras" - Crime Prevention FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to report to the City Council on the status of the CCTV camera program; the phase out of the original blue-light cameras and replacement with closed circuit units; the increase in certain crimes and decline in clearance rates; and the measures in place for monitoring the cameras.
• Sponsors: Stephanie President Rawlings-Blake, Sharon Green Middleton, Bill Henry, President Young, Robert Curran, William H. Cole, IV, James B. Kraft, Nicholas C. D'Adamo, Mary Pat Clarke, Warren Branch, Edward Reisinger, Agnes Welch, Belinda Conaway
• Indexes: Blue Light Cameras, Resolution

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/11/2010	0	City Council	Withdrawn
3/16/2009	0	Public Safety and Health Committee	Scheduled for a Public Hearing
2/12/2009	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
2/9/2009	0	City Council	Introduced
2/9/2009	0	City Council	Assigned

* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*

CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: President Rawlings-Blake

A RESOLUTION ENTITLED

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Performance Measures - "Blue Light Cameras" - Crime Prevention

FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to report to the City Council on the status of the CCTV camera program; the phase out of the original blue-light cameras and replacement with closed circuit units; the increase in certain crimes and decline in clearance rates; and the measures in place for monitoring the cameras.
Body
Recitals

News that Baltimore Police will be phasing out the familiar blue-light cameras mounted high above the City streets in high-crime areas has been met with consternation by some neighborhood residents, despite the fact that they are being replaced by more sophisticated and effective closed-circuit units.

The original cameras, first installed in 2005, have limited technology application that requires considerable manpower – these movable PODSS cameras have to be monitored on site by an officer with a laptop style computer or the video stored in the cameras can be reviewed, although there is often trouble in interpreting the images recorded unattended at an earlier time.

The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice reports that Baltimore’s Crime Camera Program has grown quickly over the past several years. Baltimore currently has 480 CCTV cameras and 100 movable PODSS. Most recently, the City install...