DUBLIN, Ga. — If you call the City of Dublin home, there is a new eye in the sky that may be watching you. This week, the Dublin Police Department launched what they call "Operation Eagle Eye." The operation is adding more than a dozen cameras to the city. 13WMAZ learned how this new security feature might make the streets of Dublin safer.
"I never noticed that camera until you said something, never," Try Joiner said.
Along the streets of Dublin, you might notice something new attached to some light posts.
"So it will be safer now," Joiner said.
Joiner is talking about one of the new security cameras along North Jefferson Street.
"I think it is for the safety, especially with the traffic here, we have a lot of accidents that go on pretty much in this area right here," she said.
Dublin Police Chief Tim Chatman says Operation Eagle Eye will include about 30 cameras (or less). The operation focuses on keeping an eye on the streets of Dublin and lowering crime.
"Will it replace officers? No, the officers will still be out in the neighborhoods doing what they normally do," Chatman said.
Chatman says the cameras are strategically placed in neighborhoods.
"Broaden this vision and this initiative in every way possible to gain information to solve crimes, and also to discourage criminals," Chatman said.
With these security cameras, the chief of police is able to see what is going on on streets like North Jefferson Street in real time.
The cameras allow investigators to play back, pause, and zoom in on objects. Chatman says the technology is already helping.
"The first day we went in operation, I actually saw a drug deal go down in an area. I was able to get the tag number, get all the footage of that, and turn that over to our drug unit," Chatman said.
City Manager Lances Jones says the cameras cost about $160 each per month for the city to lease, money some people in the community believe is being well-spent.
"It is good to have it," Joiner said.
Chatman says the next step is to build a room to house the live feed for the cameras in the city. He hopes to have all the cameras fully operational by next month. Once those cameras are running, he hopes to have trained volunteers monitor the footage around the clock.
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