Desert Hot Springs To Add Security Cameras Throughout City

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – It’s called the Community Camera Program.Thirty video cameras focused on Desert Hot Springs so officers can keep an eye on criminals.

The system will be finished next month after all the cameras are installed and officers are trained.

Police Chief Patrick Williams hopes local businesses will link up with them.

“Every convenience store in town, every grocery store, every gas station got cameras now the cops got cameras,” says Chief Williams.

The systems costs $1.2 million. That’s about $25,000 thousand per camera.

They might be tempting target for thieves or vandals. But the camera’s have alarms, so cops know if someone is messing with them.

“That would be a crooks worst nightmare is to be messing with a cops camera. Because their gonna be going to jail and we’re gonna make sure every one knows about it,” says Chief Williams.

Other cities in the valley also have camera systems. but, the one thing that sets Desert Hot Springs apart is that officers will have the ability to view cameras while still in the field.

“In most circumstances it may be benign. Traffic accidents, some kind of citizens assist,” says Chief Williams. “But, where it’s a violent crime in progress that data is invaluable for the officers to have that knowledge before they get to a scene.”

The cameras are placed in public areas. People we talked with aren’t worried about privacy. They’re more concerned about protection.

“I mean it’s good if they can stop people from getting hurt. If they can see it happening and they can get there before some gets hurt, that’s good,” says resident Dan Welsch

“It’s hard for them to be everywhere. That way they can see what’s going on when they’re not there,” resident Cathy Mayer.

So, while a picture may be worth a thousand words, a video may be worth more. It could save someone’s life.