DUBLIN, Ga. — The Dublin Police Department is adding extra eyes to its police force, except these eyes will be electronic.
Police Chief Tim Chatman says the city of Dublin is growing every day, and he says with more people comes more crime
He is hoping to bring in cameras that will make his officers and the community feel safer.
At Hometown Supply off Jefferson Street, crime is nothing new.
"When we got broken into, I have had to go back and review the tapes a few times, because he have had somebody come through the back to break in, or coming through the side," Joyce Waid said.
That's why the store has a dozen security cameras and starting soon, Dublin Police hope to do the same except throughout the city.
"We are excited about it from the police standpoint, because it becomes a force multiplier," Chatman said.
He says he and city leaders hope cameras will lower crime in the city -- adding that his officers cannot be everywhere but the cameras can.
"We have eyes on the streets by using cameras. We have a room dedicated, two rooms in particular, that we are going to put the monitors up at the police department and have somebody to watch those," Chatman said.
Chatman says the cameras will feed back to the department in real time -- an idea some people in Dublin can get behind.
"I think it would be a good idea because we have had to use the cameras here for other people downtown," Waid said.
Chatman does not have a price for the cameras, but says the cameras will ultimately save taxpayer dollars.
"We are trying to preserve life and property. When you compare it to an officer, you look at the price you are paying versus how much you pay for an officer, it is a whole lot cheaper than hiring an officer," Chatman said.
Right now, there is not a scheduled date to have the cameras up, but Chatman says he wants them ready sooner rather than later.