Vicksburg Board approves installation of video cameras in city
Published 4:02 pm Monday, July 18, 2022
- A prototype of the surveillance camera system adopted by the City of Vicksburg. (Photo by Ben Martin | The Vicksburg Post)
The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a resolution to acquire and install a high-tech video camera system designed and operated by the non-profit group Project New Orleans.
According to the resolution, cameras will be installed at locations across the city under a program called “Operation Safe Vicksburg.”
The resolution was approved at the board’s meeting Monday. It authorizes the city’s Information Technology Department to hire a contractor to install the cameras and the police department to assist in their location. City officials will also work with Vicksburg School District officials to install cameras at schools. The cost of installation has not been determined.
A portion of $2.66 million of American Recovery Plan Act funds recently received by the city will cover the costs of the cameras.
“We’re going to obligate the first part (of the ARPA funds) for what it costs for the cameras,” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said. “The cameras are donated and all we’ve got to pay for is the installation and the use of the cameras.”
He said the remaining ARPA funds will be kept in a special account for other projects. The account was established by the board Monday.
According to the resolution, three different types of cameras will be installed in the city:
• Cameras with gunshot detection ability will be installed at 26 locations.
• License plate reader cameras that can get numbers and letters from a license plate will be installed at Washington Street near Ameristar Casino, the North and South parking garages, Fisher Ferry Road at Sports Parks on the Mississippi, Clay and Hope Street, all Interstate 20 intersections and the intersection of South Street and Washington Street.
• PTZ cameras will be installed at 24 locations. According to manufacturer PTZ Optics, A PTZ camera is a pan, tilt, and zoom robotic video camera controlled by a remote operator to pan horizontally, tilt vertically and diagonally, and zoom in on a subject to enhance the image quality without digital pixelation.
“These cameras are absolutely essential for the prevention of crime,” Flaggs said of the mix of cameras.
“This is something that we need to keep the city safe,” Police Chief Penny Jones said. “We need them in our community.”
The board July 10 approved an agreement with Project New Orleans, a non-profit organization that designed and operates a video camera system to aid law enforcement by developing and implementing cost-subsidized high-definition cameras, gunshot detectors and license plate recognition cameras in needed areas.
The board’s agreement with Project NOLA came after city officials visited the organization’s center in New Orleans.
Camera Locations Are:
PTZ Cameras with Shot Spotter Ability
- The intersection of Alcorn Drive and Mission 66
- The intersection of Alma Drive and Ethel Street
- The intersection of Clay Street and Baldwin Ferry Road
- The intersection of Clay Street and Mission 66
- The intersection of Clay Street and Cherry Street
- The intersection of Clay Street and Washington Street
- Estate Drive (Eastview Apartments)
- The intersection of Grove Street and First North Street
- The intersection of Grove Street and Levee Street
- The intersection of Halls Ferry Road and Lane Street
- The intersection of Harrison Street and Court Street
- The intersection of Lakehill Drive and Eastover Drive
- The intersection of Lakehill Drive and Carroll Place
- The intersection of Lane Street and Military Avenue
- The intersection of Locust Street and Jefferson Street
- The intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Openwood Street
- The intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Mission 66
- The intersection of Meadow Street and Letitia Street
- The intersection of National Street and Second Avenue
- The intersection of Polk Street and Second Avenue
- The intersection of Security Street and Mattingly Street
- City Park, at the intersection of Farmer Street and Randolph Street
- City Park, on Ken Karyl Drive
- The intersection of Bowmar Avenue and Drummond Street
- The intersection of First North Street and South Street
- Enchanted Hill Subdivision (Kings Row)
License Plate Reader Cameras
- Washington Street near Ameristar Casino
- North Parking Garage
- South Parking Garage
- Fisher Ferry Road (Sports Force Park)
- Clay Street and Hope Street
- All Interstate 20 interchanges
- The intersection of South Street and Washington Street
PTZ Cameras
- The intersection of Berryman Road and Maxwell Drive
- The intersection of Drummond Street and Speed Street
- The intersection of Drummond Street and Polk Street
- The intersection of Grove Street and Mission 66
- Hall Road
- The intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Alcorn Drive
- The intersection of Washington Street and North Frontage Road (near Enterprise Rental)
- The intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Bazinsky Road (near the car wash)
- City Park is located on Sherman Avenue
- Army Navy Drive (camera near the softball fields)
- 800 Block of Washington Street
- City Pavilion and City Pool
- Crawford Street and Gordon’s Alley (needs two cameras)
- 1100, 1200 and 1500 Blocks of Washington Street
- Vicksburg Auditorium (Main Street by Health Department)
- Porters Chapel Park (corner side of Wisconsin Avenue)
- Cherry Street and Grove Street
- Jackson Street Community Center (possible 360-degree camera at the corner of Jackson Street and Walnut Street)
- Depot Street and Washington Street
- Waterfront Park
- Shady Lane
- Starlight Drive
- The intersection of Veto Street and Washington Street
- The intersection of South Madison Street and Washington Street