Police test video cameras on campus

Big Brother is watching. Well, sort of. Two closed-circuit video cameras, hidden inside street lamps, were installed this summer by the Division of Public Safety as part of a pilot program designed to both deter crime and aid police with apprehension. The two cameras are currently being tested on the corner of 36th and Walnut streets and at the intersection of 40th and Locust streets, and if successful, could lead to the implementation of more cameras at other widely traveled campus locations. The cameras, which have a field of view of about one block in all directions, are connected to a closed-circuit television system located inside the University Police headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street. A staff of telecommunicators will monitor the incoming pictures, with 24-hour oversight by Penn Police supervisors. "It's going to be used for safety and security purposes on campus," Security Services Director Stratis Skoufalos said. As part of the effort to prevent crime before it actually happens, signs are posted in the area, alerting passersby -- and potential criminals -- of the machines' presence. Public Safety officials hope that the camera system will serve as a two-pronged deterrent, helping to both scare off would-be perpetrators and assist street patrol officers after a crime has been committed. Should a crime occur under the cameras' watchful eyes, the device can be moved mechanically, enabling telecommunicators and supervisors at headquarters to communicate with officers in the field. In some cases, officers could receive details of a crime even before they arrive at the scene. Additionally, the cameras could prove helpful in identifying suspects. "It's like having another cop out there," Skoufalos said over the summer. "We intend to use the cameras as another set of eyes, as if an officer was monitoring the area." Other potential locations for the cameras include 40th and Walnut streets, 40th and Spruce, 39th and Walnut, 39th and Spruce, 38th and Walnut, 38th and Spruce, and in a parking lot at 38th and Walnut streets. Skoufalos said Public Safety has received no comments about privacy concerns so far. The cameras represent part of an ongoing effort by Public Safety to use more technology in its crime-fighting efforts. The policies surrounding the camera system prevent the release of any information on the tapes not in use in a criminal investigation, unless approved by Vice President for Public Safety Tom Seamon. Tapes that are not aiding an active investigation will be destroyed 30 days after being recorded. University Council approved the policy about closed-circuit television last year after hearing testimony from Public Safety officials.