San Francisco Area Park Installs Security Cameras to Cut Crime

San Francisco Area Park Installs Security Cameras to Cut Crime

The City of Berkley, Calif. is installing surveillance cameras in San Pablo Park to decrease crime.

San Pablo Park in Berkley, Calif. is the oldest park in the city and features a recreation center, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts as well as playgrounds and picnic areas. The area surrounding the park is filled with $1 million single-story villas bungalows. Sounds like a utopia, but even these seemingly perfect areas are not invincible to crime.

The City of Berkley has decided to install surveillance cameras throughout San Pablo Park, a move that is in direct response to a spate of shootings, drug dealing and other crime in recent years. 

The new 17 cameras went live in early March, Officer Byron White, a spokesperson for the Berkley Police Department told the San Francisco Chronicle. The camera footage will be reviewed by the police and Berkley staff as needed to gather evidence in the event of a crime. Signage to mark that the cameras have been installed is currently in the works.

The cameras were part of a solution put together by police and parks officials after local residents packed into meetings at the park's rec center to urge officers to take action following recent shooting incidents. 

Berkley conducted an online survey in November about installing cameras in parks as a security measures. Of 240 respondents, 199 (or 82 percent) said they support the idea. While most residents who aded comments said they liked the idea, some wrote they were concerned about the "Big Brother" aspect of creating a surveillance network.

Residents believe the cameras will help to deter crime as well as help police in their search for suspects. Many hope that there are plans in the future to add cameras not only to the interior parts of the park, but along the perimeter as well.


About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.