Politics & Government

Smile! You May be on a Neighborhood Watch Camera

St. Petersburg officials will vote on final approval of the neighborhood video watch ordinance later this year.

Neighborhood watch signs and cameras could soon be coming to a St. Petersburg neighborhood near you. 

The city council, sitting as the public services and infrastructure committee Aug. 8, approved the creation of an ordinance to allow neighborhoods participating in the city's neighborhood watch program to have neighborhood video signs. 

Originally intended only for neighborhoods already participating in the neighborhood watch program, council asked the city's legal staff to allow for the neighborhood video program to expand to any future participating neighborhood as well. 

Council member Wengay Newton said if the city is trying to lower crime, any neighborhood wanting to participate in the program should be allowed to do so. 

"Every single day in St. Petersburg, the police request to get stuff from video cameras," said council chair Karl Nurse. "I don’t think we ought to put impediment in the way for doing this."

According to a memo from chief assistant city attorney Mark Winn: "The amendment established the traditional neighborhood watch program which is based on the current model the city uses. In addition, it establishes a neighborhood video watch program."

The neighborhood video watch, according to the city, is a program within the neighborhood crime watch program that allows residents to have private video monitoring systems. 

Under the proposed ordinance, the city charges a $100 fee for the neighborhood watch sign and a year renewal rate of $25. 

Nurse said the city should not charge the public for helping police with public safety. 

"I don’t think we ought to charge people for it," Nurse said. "In two of the poorest neighborhoods I represent, I know that their balance in their neighborhood association funds are under $200."

He said the city should use police forfeiture funds to offset the cost of signs and administrative costs.  

"We ought to say 'thank you' instead of saying 'here, give me a $100,' " Nurse said.

Winn said council does not control those funds but it can make a recommendation to St. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Harmon to spend forfeiture funds on the program. 

Harmon, Winn said, has the final say. 

The forfeiture fund is from money police extract and seize from criminals, according to police PIO Mike Puetz. 


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