Downtown cameras on agenda

BARRIE - Could security cameras have saved Troy Lush?

In the wake of Lush’s downtown stabbing death, Barrie’s Police Services Board is meeting to discuss the merits of installing security cameras throughout the downtown core. But Lush’s death isn’t the catalyzing factor – the proposal has been in the works for weeks, having been brought to the board’s attention last month by Ward 2 Coun. Jeff Lehman.

Lehman has been working with the downtown neighbourhood association, merchants and police, according to board chair Doug Jure.

Next week’s regularly scheduled Police Services Board meeting agenda will include the merits of installing cameras throughout the city core. But it will be more than a faceless policy debate following the 24-year-old’s stabbing death Saturday.

Jure expects the debate to cover the potential effectiveness of the proposed cameras: will they deter crime or simply record it; and the associated costs, which could include additional officers to monitor the action around the clock at the police station’s communication centre.

If the board decides to go forward with a camera program and can implement it within its existing budget, there is no barrier going forward. If it requires additional funds, the matter will come before city council.

Mayor Dave Aspden, who also sits on the board, is adamant in his support of downtown cameras – especially in light of the recent violence.

“It’s madness,” he said in a telephone interview, expressing his condolences to the families involved. “There is no need for that.”

Aspden said he believes safety would be served by installing cameras.

“Even if it doesn’t deter crime, it’ll sure help the investigation,” he explained, calling for stronger sentences from the courts, for municipalities to control the hours of operation of bars, and for financial support from other levels of government to support safety measures.

“The provinces and feds should look at supplying the funds for security cameras,” he said. “It’ll reduce the cost of policing, health care and court (proceedings).”

Jure said the board will consider the possibility of complementing the camera coverage already existing downtown from private-sector interests who already cooperate with Barrie police.

Police Chief Mark Neelin is expected to make a presentation to the board Aug. 24 about the effectiveness of cameras to deter crime.

“If he doesn’t have the tools to carry out investigations effectively and efficiently, that’s where we come in,” Jure said.