By Henry Fitzgerald
The Delray Beach Police Department is seeking state money to pay for technology in public places, which would include cameras to be installed on the barrier island to help fight crime.
In a letter sent to residents early in February, police Lt. Gary Ferreri asked for letters of support so he could forward them to state officials.
In the letter, Ferreri says the cameras would be installed in “the area along A1A where visitors park their vehicles, the pavilion, in our many public parks and along E. Atlantic Avenue” between the Intracoastal Waterway and State Road A1A.
If the state money is approved, Ferreri writes, “the goal is to install CCTV cameras to act as a deterrent to criminal activity, to monitor the area during special events” and to “assist investigators after an incident occurs.”
It’s unclear how much money the state would allocate to Delray Beach to install the cameras. The funds would come from a pot of money approved statewide for such expenditures.
The idea comes months after a major gunfire incident south of the Delray Beach pavilion on A1A on June 21. One person was injured and nearly four dozen spent shell casings were found on the ground. That incident was similar to one earlier last year on March 30. In that gunfire incident, a juvenile was injured when a large group gathered on the top floor of the Old School Square parking garage, at 95 NE First Ave., a block east of Swinton Avenue.
At least one resident thinks adding cameras on the barrier island would be great.
“It’s a terrific idea because of the number of incidents we have had in this area,” said Kelly Barrette, who lives on Seaspray Avenue on the barrier island. “I’ve been here 13 years, and we’ve been asking for more police patrols. I know I’d feel a lot better with cameras; this will certainly help the police.”
Barrette said her neighborhood has its fair share of burglaries, car break-ins and thefts and robberies because of its location near A1A.
“It’s easy for criminals; A1A is like an escape route,” she said. “Also, the area is very dark at night because the lights are turned off because of the sea turtles.”
Vice Mayor Juli Casale says if the state money is approved, the plan is to introduce the cameras to the beach area, then eventually expand them to other areas of the city.
The beach area “is a perfect area to start with the cameras,” she said. “If things work in that area, I’d be in favor of having them all over the city.”
As for whether any residents would think having cameras all over the city would be a bridge too far, Casale doesn’t think so.
“I think the benefits outweigh the risks,” she said. “A lot of residents asked for this to happen. The safety of all of our residents is our first priority.”
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