The Metropolitan Police Department today announced the planned deployment of 10 more Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras designed to help combat crime in District of Columbia neighborhoods. Once the installation of the new cameras is completed, the MPDC will have a total of 35 CCTV cameras for combating neighborhood crime.
In selecting locations for CCTV cameras, the Chief of Police is required by law to consider calls for police service, reported crimes and other public safety indicators, as well as recommendations or requests from Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and civic or citizen associations. The Chief also considers public housing developments in Hot Spot areas.
The use of CCTV cameras for crime-fighting purposes is permitted under the Enhanced Crime Prevention and Abatement Emergency Amendment Act of 2006, which the DC Council passed and Mayor Anthony A. Williams signed in July.
The cameras, which focus on public space only, are “passively monitored” by the MPDC, meaning that officers generally will not be watching the camera feeds in real time. Rather, camera images will be recorded and then reviewed by police if there are reports of criminal activity in the area.
Plans call for 48 neighborhood cameras to be installed by the end of September. The neighborhood cameras can be deployed during the 90 days in which the emergency legislation is in effect. Extending their use beyond that time would require further action by the Council.
The 10 new CCTV cameras are being deployed at the following locations:
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400 block of 16th Street, NE
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8th and H Streets, NE
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18th and D Streets, NE
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K and North Capitol Streets, NW
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1400 block of Oak Street, NW
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14th and W Streets, NW
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14th Street and Columbia Road, NW
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9th and Kennedy Streets, NW
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14th and Quincy Streets, NW
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1400 block of First Street, NW, and O Street, NW
Additional information about the MPD’s use of Closed Circuit Television, including the locations of all neighborhood-based cameras, can be found on the MPDC website, mpdc.dc.gov/cctv.