SNOHOMISH — Police Chief John Turner announced Tuesday night he’s exploring a way to curb alcohol-fueled violence on First Street.
He’s planning to use grant money and work with bar owners and other businesses to install surveillance cameras, Turner told the Snohomish City Council.
“It’s necessary for the safety of First Street,” the chief said Wednesday.
Turner has been talking about cameras ever since a July 19 brawl on First Street during Kla-Ha-Ya Days left three police officers with injuries.
The fight was the latest in a series of violent incidents that also spurred the state Liquor Control Board to designate Snohomish a “strategic location of interest.”
The cameras are a “solution in search of a problem,” said David Osgood, an attorney for the Snohomish Hospitality Association, a cooperative of bars.
Many of the bars already have video cameras installed in their businesses and the group is willing to work with the police to provide access, if needed, Osgood said.
The technology on cameras is good, Turner said. However, the chief said he expects putting the watchful eye of law enforcement on the street may be a tough sell to the public.
“This is not a Big Brother thing; cameras are everywhere,” Turner said.
If installed, the cameras would record no sound and only be directed toward public spaces.
Mayor Randy Hamlin asked Turner to look at how other cities are using cameras during Tuesday’s city council meeting. The fatal stabbing of a teenager recently was captured on surveillance video in downtown Sultan.
Cameras already have been successful in Snohomish at preventing problems in the city’s skate park, city councilwoman Lynn Schilaty said.
Experts who study alcohol-related social problems say cameras do little to prevent problems.
Setting up cameras on First Street would cost about $30,000, according to preliminary estimates, Turner said. The vendor also would enable wide-spread wireless Internet access.
About $14,000 of the cost would be paid for by a federal Department of Justice grant, Turner said. He’s looking for partners to pick up the remaining costs.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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