Greenfield on the path to installing city-wide surveillance system

The city of Greenfield recently approved a contract which is set to kickstart the process of installling a city-wide surveillance system.

City leaders point to other South Monterey County cities like Soledad and King City, who have city-wide surveillance systems, as one reason they feel Greenfield needs one as well.

City Council says the plan has been in the works for a while but now has some numbers behind it.

33 cameras are listed for installation at various locations in Greenfield.

“Cameras will help make the city safer,” says business owner Raul Rodriguez. “I don’t think people in South County feel unsafe, though.”

Rodriguez says he hopes Greenfield Police will continue to develop relationships with community members to foster what can be a 1-2 punch in fighting crime–witnesses who are willing and trusting enough to speak, plus a city-wide surveillance system in place.

“The cameras are just one tool. I want police to see the people are just as important as the cameras are going to be,” Rodriguez says.

City leaders meanwhile point to King City in particular as to the effectiveness of these cameras.

It wasn’t long ago a murder investigation led to arrests after Greenfield Police enlisted the help of King City Police.

King City Police Department personnel showed video of the suspect in that murder investigation coming in and out of King City.

It’s examples like that which Greenfield city leaders say makes them comfortable with the idea of having city-wide surveillance on city streets.

The contract for such a project is worth a little over $1 million, according to city documents.

Cameras would be placed downtown, at city parks and other areas of the city.

City council members approved the contract this month pending successful funding.