Last year, I wanted to get cameras put in at Founders Square Park so that bad behavior like kids shooting those dumb toy guns and hitting people with bikes and scooters could be seen and people doing that could be identified. Indiana law does not allow police to do much unless they actually see it happen, and we don't currently have the ability to keep a police officer at Founders Square every afternoon, but cameras would allow us to identify people who break the law when parents report it to police and then police can see it. It would also allows police to respond if something is wrong or getting bad and an officer has to run there.

The effort for cameras did not work out last year after some debate on the Redevelopment Commission on if it might be an invasion of privacy to have cameras there, even if the public was informed of them being there, as we would always intend it to be transparent. There were also a number of issues with trying to figure out how such a cameras system would be best set up and pay for if we decided to proceed with it.

I'm trying for them again this year, and if you agree with me, I would ask you to come to the next meeting of the Redevelopment Commission meeting on March 20th at 4:30 pm to show your support. Even if you do not like the idea of cameras being used, please come anyway if you can to take part in the discussion on how to get Founders Square Park, especially Hannah's Hope Playground, made as safe as possible this year.