KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Knoxville City Council has approved a measure allowing the Knoxville Police Department to move forward with plans to install surveillance cameras in the downtown district, though final funding approval is still required before the equipment can be purchased and installed.
The proposal is part of KPD’s Real Time Information Center initiative and calls for the purchase of six surveillance cameras at a cost of just over $30,000.
Police Chief Paul Noel said the department currently has no surveillance cameras operating in the downtown area. Under the proposal, three or four cameras would be installed around Market Square, with an additional camera on Gay Street facing Krutch Park and one or two cameras on Market Street overlooking the park.
Noel emphasized that the cameras would function like other surveillance cameras already operated by the department and would be used as investigative tools to help solve crimes.
According to KPD, the cameras would not include facial recognition technology or license plate reading capabilities.
The proposal generated discussion during council deliberations, with some city leaders and community members expressing concerns about privacy.
Downtown worker Chris Dunbar said he supports the presence of law enforcement downtown but remains uncertain about the addition of surveillance cameras.
“I’m not quite sure about that,” Dunbar said. “I know it may help with policing, but I’m not sure with the whole issue of privacy and so forth.”
At the same time, Dunbar praised KPD’s response to incidents that occur downtown, saying officers are generally quick to respond when problems arise.
Supporters of the camera system argue the devices could improve safety and assist investigators when crimes occur in the city’s busiest public gathering spaces.
City Councilman Matthew DeBardelaben said the request for cameras has come from a wide range of downtown stakeholders, including residents, business owners and visitors.
“This has been asked by the residents, the businesses and visitors to come to Market Square; to our living room,” DeBardelaben said.
Discussions about placing surveillance cameras in downtown Knoxville have been ongoing for several years between KPD and the Downtown Knoxville Alliance.
The next step is approval of funding from the Downtown Knoxville Alliance. If funding is approved, police officials say they hope to install the cameras as quickly as possible.
