Poway City Council supports Sheriff’s Department camera surveillance program

Safe Poway, a San Diego County Sheriff’s Department program that places cameras throughout the city to deter and observe crime, was unanimously approved by the City Council Tuesday night.

The program also allows businesses and residents to voluntarily share access to their live and recorded video with the Sheriff’s Department. Officials say this access will provide additional resources that could help the department better police the city, potentially track crime in real time and help facilitate timely investigations.

Lemon Grove served as a pilot for the new program and Santee is in the process of implementing the Safe Santee program, said Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Rand, who presented the program to council members.

“There’s potential for crime prevention,” Rand said. “Our goal is to make them as visible as we can.”

City staff recommended that the council participate in the program and authorize up to $35,000 in unassigned general fund money to pay for additional cameras and technology not funded by the Sheriff’s Department.

The program will start with five cameras in Poway, Rand said. The suggested locations of the cameras were City Hall, parks, intersections and transit centers.

“I’ve been excited about this,” Mayor Steve Vaus said. “This is like neighborhood watch on steroids.”

“I’m all for it,” he added.

Councilmember Caylin Frank said the program is a “fantastic tool” and a way for Poway to be proactive.

“I think this is a great program and I’m happy to move forward with it,” she said.

The concept for the program is unique in that it is both a partnership between Poway and the Sheriff’s Department and also with local businesses and residents, officials said. Access to private cameras can help further deter crime, allow crime to be tracked in real time and assist in prosecution, according to city officials. Participation in the program by businesses and residents is voluntary.

Safe Poway will be managed by the Sheriff’s Department, which will provide funding for the camera network infrastructure as well as a specific number of cameras.

City staff and the Sheriff’s Department will coordinate on purchasing and placement of the cameras as well as developing promotional material about the program to create awareness. A component of the promotional material will include information about the website where businesses and residents can opt in to share access to their cameras.