The city of Troy has about 120 police surveillance cameras, but because of software issues, they don't always work – and the problem has persisted for years.
The city council set aside money and got a state grant late last year. Council President Carmella Mantello says talks with a vendor were delayed because of COVID-19. Since then, the city has also seen an uptick in violence.
What You Need To Know
- Troy has about 120 police surveillance cameras
- For years, the cameras' software has had problems, meaning they don't always work
- The Troy City Council secured funding to fix the problem late last year, but talks with a vendor were delayed because of COVID-19
- The council is set to vote on the contract at its October meeting
Sharona Waters, a lifetime Troy resident, questions why the software hasn't been fixed. Waters says several years ago, she was walking to her car when a man exposed himself. He later abused two women. She says surveillance footage was key in putting the man behind bars.
"It's very scary. If I leave work, I don't know if I'm going to have someone who randomly comes up to my car, or driving down the street, I am petrified of random bullets flying," Waters said.
Mantello says the council expects to vote on a contract to fix the software at its upcoming meeting October 1. From there, she wants to work on buying additional cameras for hot spots.