HONOLULU (KHON2) — There are already cameras in place at some City parks, but now a Honolulu City Councilmember wants to take it a step further.
A new pilot program could bring more video surveillance to public spaces.
From illegal dumping to vandalism and even shootings, some City parks are hotspots for unwanted activity. There are currently 16 parks across Oahu that have security cameras, but a new resolution at the City Council could expand that number starting with a one-year pilot program.
“I wanted to propose it in other council districts, whether it be just one or more, and if it doesn’t work out, that’s why we wanted to pilot it and see our capacity. And if it inspires any safety actions as well,” said Councilmember Radiant Cordero.
Each of the City’s nine council districts would choose one park to install overt video monitoring — or surveillance that is clearly visible and marked with signage.
Experts said the goal would be to stop problems before they start.
“That’s what we’re trying to achieve, a deterrent. We don’t want to catch the image itself stealing things. We want to prevent someone or that crime from happening,” said Security Alarm Shop president Joey Ching.
The footage can be saved for up to a month if deterrence fails and the Parks and Recreation Department partners with HPD and other departments to catch those responsible.
“Honolulu Police Department obviously does the investigation and arrests, the Department of Facility Maintenance actually has electricians that help to do the wiring and the installation and the Department of Information Technology, is the one who has the, the technology and has the data retention,” said DPR spokesman Nate Serota.
Some concerns were raised at the council hearing over privacy, but the Parks and Recreation Department said extra precautions go in to making sure that no one is violated.
“Cameras that we do have stationed on the outside of what we call Comfort Stations , the bathroom buildings they are focused specifically on just entryways, so they cannot see inside the bathroom,” Serota said.
The resolution was referred to the Public Safety Committee and still needs full council approval before the pilot program moves forward.