The City of Fort Myers has started installing cameras throughout a couple communities hardest hit by crime hoping to deter criminals and help with future investigations by having video evidence.
Sixteen cameras will be installed at the entrances of the Harlem Heights neighborhood off Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Habitat Village near Veronica Shoemaker. The installation is expected to be done by the end of the month, but will people have to choose between protection or privacy?
The idea of installing cameras throughout the city has been in the works ever since the Zombicon shooting. Manager Saeed Kazemi says the cameras are costing tax payers $300,000. The cost covers the infrastructure, wiring, and a high tech system allowing cameras to connect straight to the monitoring station at the Fort Myers Police Department.
"We are going to make sure that everybody out there that are doing this kind of act that they know we are going to be watching," Kazemi said.
The City will be watching, but does this cross any lines with invasion of privacy? Kazemi says no.
"We are doing only the city owned property," he said. "We are not going to be watching people's houses. We're not going to be watching people's driveway. We have a right to put them up on city property."
