Twenty years ago, when the first two closed circuit cameras were installed downtown, many people were uneasy with the idea, says Downtown Sudbury's Maureen Luoma.
“At first, there were a lot of questions, there were a lot of concerns,” Luoma said of the idea, which originated in England but was pioneered in North America in Sudbury.
“I guess we were the guinea pigs.”
Speaking at a ceremony Wednesday at Tom Davies Square to mark the 20th anniversary of the Lions Eye in the Sky program, she said the world is much different now, with personal and public cameras everywhere.
“Today, the perceptions and attitudes have changed – it's an everyday thing now,” Luoma said. “It's almost expected.”
City officials and volunteers marked the anniversary by announcing that the current camera arsenal is growing, from 16 to 17, with the new 'eye' expected to be installed within a month or so.
Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen said the new camera will go in at the corner of Elm Street and Notre Dame Avenue, and will cover areas such as Hnatyshyn Park and the Sudbury Transit bus terminal, where police get a lot of complaints.
“It has been identified as an area of concern by citizens,” Pedersen said.
The program began in 1996, after former police chief Alex McCauley saw them in use in the U.K. and thought they could work here, too.
After the initial reluctance, the cameras have more than proven their worth, Pedersen said. They discourage crimes, help police with investigations, and in one case, helped police monitor the situation during a hostage situation.
They have also helped clear innocent people accused of crimes. In bar fights, for example, he said one side will claim both sides were at fault, while the other will say they were assaulted. The video feed can tell police the real story, he said.
“It has corroborated victim testimony,” Pedersen said. “We know downtown safety has been enhanced ... It's so important for us to have those 16 eyes in the sky.
“We can't be everywhere all the time. Having a camera that is awake and alive … 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year is just fantastic.”
Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann said the role of the 40 volunteers who staff the cameras, and all the partners who support them and raise money for the cause are critical to the program's success.
“To be successful, you have to have a vision,” Landry-Altmann said. “It has made our community and our downtown core a safe place to be.”
