Merchants may 'adopt' security cameras in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Some see a need and decide they want to adopt.

Sikeston City Councilman Steven Burch abstained from a vote to establish an "adopt-a-camera" program in the city because of a conflict of interest: His business is the first to offer a camera to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

"This is a program where we will work with local merchants to put new cameras out that will benefit both our needs and their needs for security around their building," department director Drew Juden said.

The city's camera system was put into place in 2002 not to issue traffic tickets but for surveillance to enhance public safety, according to Juden. When a call comes in to the department, dispatchers are able to use cameras to look at an area before an officer arrives and provide the officer with additional information, he said.

Dispatchers also watch over public safety officers during vehicle stops. The camera also provides information ranging from incoming weather and power outages to the location of trains passing through town, Juden said.

The idea for an adopt-a-camera program came up several years ago, he said, "but never really took traction."

That is until Burch Food Services nudged it from being just an idea to becoming an actual program with a genuine offer to donate a camera.

"I personally feel the camera system that the public safety department utilizes is a great asset to the safety of the community and to the employees that come in and out of our facility," Burch said. "To be able to contribute to a system that helps ensure the safety of the citizens of Sikeston and the employees of our company is something I feel is beneficial for all."

"I think it's great," Juden said. "It's the kind of partnership we need between our agency, the businesses community and the general public. It is kind of like a neighborhood-watch program but the information comes directly to us."

The cost for a camera that will work with the department's system "varies from location to location, but in our location it was approximately $6,000," Burch said. "This is just a method by which individuals or businesses can contribute resources that enhance the system that Public Safety already has in place and to help it expand."

And the system soon will have the capability to do just that.

Juden explained cameras were added to the system over the years until they maxed out at 28, which is the most the current digital video recorder can handle.

But during the July 29 meeting, city council members authorized the purchase of a new DVR and a spare camera for the system at an estimated cost of $35,000.

Juden said he is scheduled to meet with the equipment vendor Tuesday.

"So I'm hoping in the next 30 to 45 days we will have it up and in operation," he said.

The new DVR will be able to record and store the video feed from up to 128 cameras.

"We will probably store about two weeks worth," Juden said. "Generally in that time frame we know if we need to go back and look at something. We can take clips, single frames and, depending on the level of the camera, some of it can be enhanced. Some of the cameras are 12 years old -- not the quality of a camera you are going to get today."

For more information, call Juden at 471-6200.

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, Mo.