A $500,000 has been granted to the Syracuse Police Department, and that money is going towards more street cameras. The money coming from the American Rescue Plan.
The money will not only be used to expand the network, but it will also allow the department to repair or maintain existing cameras.
Department officials say cameras are the best tool they have to investigate crimes like larceny, even homicides.
“A long time ago when we had homicides, we would go door to door and do canvasses. We still do that, but the cameras will solve these things sometimes in part, but as in with our most recent solving of a homicide, the homicide detectives said cameras played 98% of the solvability of that homicide. 98%. That’s how valuable these cameras are,” said Joe Cecile, Syracuse Police Department deputy chief.
The department says they are also looking at expanding the shot spotter system to the city’s north side.
