CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Another police department is putting state law enforcement technology funds to work. The Canandaigua Police Department is adding more surveillance cameras to what is a big tourist spot during the warmer months.

The City of Canandaigua already has about 60 police surveillance cameras and is set to add another 13 cameras at its super popular Lake Shore Drive area along Canandaigua Lake. The city has 12,000 residents, but will soon increase to more than 30,000 daily commuters and tourists in the summer.


What You Need To Know

  • Funding for the police cameras is provided by a $115,000 law enforcement technology grant

  • The new cameras are an extension of the city's current surveillance camera system already in use

  • The installation will begin immediately and the cameras will be online before summer

To help monitor roadways, traffic, crowds and crashes, the police, with city council approval, are adding more surveillance cameras at the city pier, Kershaw Park and along Lake Shore Drive.

Police Chief Mathew Nielsen says the surveillance camera footage from the existing cameras helped in a fatal motorcycle crash investigation and a recent shooting. The cameras capture events and police can go back and review the incident.

"We found it an invaluable tool," Nielsen said. "We thought we'd expand on a successful program. With the nature of the lakefront in Lakeshore Drive in Kershaw Park and city pier and park, it is quite busy in the summertime. When we have that many people come to one area at any given time, we are certainly increasing our odds to do some sort of investigation there."

The 911 center and the police chief have access to the cameras. The cameras are always recording. The data is stored and can be shared with the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center if needed for a criminal investigation.

“With this process that we have here, where we control it, we can immediately access the data and it can accelerate our ability to come to a conclusion of these investigations,” said Nielsen.

The new cameras are expected to be installed in the next couple of months and be online before the summer tourism season begins. 

The state law enforcement technology grants support a variety of new equipment and technology. Other police agencies have added license plate readers, mobile camera systems like the ones used in Canandaigua, drones, body-worn equipment, gunshot detection devices and smart equipment for patrol vehicle vehicles.