by KYW's vice president and general manager David Yadgaroff
Philadelphia will soon have 250 more eyes keeping watch over high crime areas in city neighborhoods. The security cameras, to be monitored by police, are now going up, with the possibility of more to follow (see related news story).
It’s regrettable that any city, much less one considered the cradle of liberty, has to resort to what opponents consider an erosion of privacy.
But deadly crime is the reality that exists, not the one we wish for. Nearby Baltimore experienced a noticeable drop in crime after cameras went up there.
But neighborhoods will still have shadows where bad things can happen, unseen. The cameras are only one tool in a crime-fighting arsenal. Human eyes connected to Town Watch organizations are vital.
Then, City Hall and Harrisburg will have to reach agreement on a package of measures including mayoral candidate Michael Nutter’s “stop and frisk” plan, along with commonsense initiatives to keep guns out of criminal hands.
It’s also helpful to remember that cameras are aids -- not replacements for a cop patrolling the beat.
To submit a comment or reply to this editorial, send an e-mail to yadgaroff@KYW.com.
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