LYNN — The city will use a $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Community Mitigation Fund to install surveillance cameras, an initiative the police chief called a “gamechanger” in the department’s efforts to solve and prevent criminal activity.
There will be 35 cameras in fixed positions throughout the city, along with two portable units that can be temporarily deployed. The cameras will be clearly marked and mounted on traffic signals in heavily trafficked areas, according to Chief Chris Reddy. The locations have been determined using data analysis of crime and traffic patterns.
“The cameras will be an important tool to help us move quickly and effectively when responding and investigating crimes,” Reddy said. “We have had some serious incidents in the past where our detectives were going door to door looking for Ring video in trying to track down suspects.”
The cameras will be used to capture only what is in the view of the general public – defined as anything that can be viewed from a vantage point that is accessible to the public where an individual would not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. They will record video but not sound…