Franklin Park puts more cameras on streets

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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:03AM

Cameras are coming to Franklin Park within the next two or three months.

The village plans to install 20-30 cameras with exact locations to be worked out during the next month, Police Chief Mike Witz said.

In 2008, the village received a $1 million grant from the Department of Justice. The grant money can be used on “a variety of things,” including technology infrastructure.

“We had inadequate infrastructure (for cameras) here,” Witz said. “We had to upgrade that. We filed for an extension.”

The village plans to spend about $120,000 to purchase and install cameras, as well as replace up to 10 older cameras that are failing.

“Its going to aid law enforcement and Public Works and the Fire Department on what’s going on out there,” Witz said. “Most are going onto the street to monitor traffic, to possibly catch offenses on video, the committing of crimes.”

The Axis cameras will include some that can tilt and others that will be fixed. They will be able to read vehicle license plates and “possibly” identify people’s faces by using the zoom lens.

The cameras will not have facial recognition software or “gun tracking” software that allows a camera to zoom in to the sound of gunshots. The cameras will not have audio capability.

Several cameras were installed years ago in the residential area west of Mannheim and between Crown Road and James Street.

The Police Department has partnered with the Park District of Franklin Park on cameras. The Park District will buy and install its own cameras, but the Police Department will monitor them.

“The Park District was a major concern,” Witz said. “There was damage occurring in some parks.”

Witz is hoping that both the Franklin Park Library and Veterans Park District also partner with the department.

“The sole purpose of the cameras is public safety,” Witz said. “It’s just a tool to aid police in the identification and tracking down of individuals. And to aid as a deterrent.”