DAYTON -- Not in my backyard! That's the message dozens of Dayton residents are sending to the city and the police department. There was a meeting at city hall Tuesday to discuss a proposal drafted by the police chief, asking the commission to implement an air surveillance program. Police say it'll reduce crime, but opponents believe it is a slippery slope to the government taking away our freedom.
There were heated emotions at the meeting, as the Dayton police chief listened to a public outcry against his proposal to bring in a $120,000 air surveillance system. The money comes from seized assets.
"If I didn't believe it had a benefit I wouldn't be doing it," said Chief Richard Biehl.
The program would include Cessna plane loaded with high-tech cameras to fly over Dayton during high-crime time periods. The goal is to identify and track crime trends, and get more bad guys behind bars. But many residents worry the technology impedes on civil liberties.
"I don't want this surveillance to be used in such a way that my son and I can be videotaped without any notice," said Dayton resident Maria Holt.
"Without some kind of restriction it's likely to be used to impede on people's privacy," agreed Vernellia Randall of Dayton.
The chief says officers won't be able to recognize a suspect's race, gender, or license plate number from the surveillance video. Apparently, the technology can only tell if an object is human, and moving. But opponents argue its only a matter if time before the technology is upgraded.
"Some the comments were over the edge. I think a lot of people have unwarranted fears," Chief Biehl said.
The chief will now take the proposal to the commission for a vote. If the commission approves the air surveillance program, the chief hopes to implement it this summer. He isn't sure when the proposal will go before the commission.
There were heated emotions at the meeting, as the Dayton police chief listened to a public outcry against his proposal to bring in a $120,000 air surveillance system. The money comes from seized assets.
"If I didn't believe it had a benefit I wouldn't be doing it," said Chief Richard Biehl.
The program would include Cessna plane loaded with high-tech cameras to fly over Dayton during high-crime time periods. The goal is to identify and track crime trends, and get more bad guys behind bars. But many residents worry the technology impedes on civil liberties.
"I don't want this surveillance to be used in such a way that my son and I can be videotaped without any notice," said Dayton resident Maria Holt.
"Without some kind of restriction it's likely to be used to impede on people's privacy," agreed Vernellia Randall of Dayton.
The chief says officers won't be able to recognize a suspect's race, gender, or license plate number from the surveillance video. Apparently, the technology can only tell if an object is human, and moving. But opponents argue its only a matter if time before the technology is upgraded.
"Some the comments were over the edge. I think a lot of people have unwarranted fears," Chief Biehl said.
The chief will now take the proposal to the commission for a vote. If the commission approves the air surveillance program, the chief hopes to implement it this summer. He isn't sure when the proposal will go before the commission.
