City Considers HD Cameras, Increased Patrols on Penniman
Liquor License Review Committee discusses options to deter alcohol-related incidents on Penniman.
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The City of Plymouth is looking to address safety and security along Penniman Avenue after two apparently alcohol-related incidents between Oct. 5-7.
In one incident, a fight earlier this month in the vacant lot between the downtown post office and the Plymouth Coffee Bean Company left three injured and one hospitalized, Director of Public Safety Al Cox said Monday during a Liquor License Review Committee meeting. In another incident, a manager from the Rock Bar & Grill followed two men accused of dining and dashing and reported being pushed to the ground and beaten by the the men, Cox said.
Cox said police are seeking warrants for both the dine-and-dash incident and for assault and battery charges.
Cox said the suspects in the dine-and-dash incident appeared intoxicated, while little information was provided about the subjects involved in the fight.
Mayor Dan Dwyer told Cox the city would be willing to step up and offer whatever is needed to deter similar incidents in the future.
Cox said he would like to have high-definition cameras downtown that can pick up clear footage in low-light conditions.
"We can identify people on camera and use it in court," Cox said.
Cox said the bars along Penniman Avenue tend to be busiest between Thursday and Saturday and are expected to be particularly busy during Detroit Tigers playoff games. Cox said the department is stepping up patrols in the area during these times, including having a car parked on Penniman.
Additionally, Cox said, police have routinely walked through local bars each week since March to ensure compliance with each business' liquor license.
No action was taken during the meeting, which preceded Monday's Plymouth City Commission meeting.
Hawaiikev1
11:03 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The City of Plymouth doesn't need HD camers we need the Overpaid Plymouth City Police to spend less time in the station and more time patrolling the City. Get them out of there gas guzzling SUV's and back on the street. If we as tax payers have to continue to sit back and watch the City of Plymouth Police Department waist our money and the City of Plymouth Board Members cut our Fire Department (That Truly Save Live) then maybe we as Tax Payers should ask the City to look into disbanding our Police Farce and bring back the Wayne County Sherff at a Cost Saving to US TAX PAYERS.
Rob
8:00 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Cameras on the streets of Plymouth? That sounds like a bit of a over reach don`t you think? You open a real can of worms with this.Every time something happens anywhere in the town they`d want to put up another camera.
DZMom
8:09 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
If you feel that strongly about our Police Force you are welcome to attend a City Commission meeting to express your concerns. The Commissioners,not board members, are doing a exceptional job in taking care of what's most important in our town. Our officers are not overpaid and our fire department was a result of the townships lack to negotiate a deal. Our fire department is in its first year and has already proven to be a great addition to our city.
Hairman
9:33 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Re assign the City " TIRE CHALKER " to night bar patrol. All it takes is one law suite
against the City for the bar issues to wipe out ALL the parking ticket fines.
Rob
9:50 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
TIRE CHALKER?
John McKay
11:44 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
There is someone who marks tires with chalk to determine how long someone has been parked in a spot downtown and writes tickets to offenders, but that method is being upgraded with wireless scanners.
Brad Jensen
11:45 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I think it is unfair to refer to the "police farce" or to say that they are overpaid. I have the greatest respect for the police who are doing a great job under difficult conditions. However, it does seem like the police should be able to patrol Penniman on weekends without the use of cameras. This is what the police already said they would do, so this should be sufficient.
Why wouldn't these businesses have their own security cameras anyway? At least for the dine-and-dash situation the suspects where inside the restaurant so they should have been picked up by the security cameras inside.
Steven S
12:02 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Wouldn't that be the private business's responsibility to have HD cameras on their premises to catch would-be shoplifters? Why is this the government's responsibility? Are we going to pay for it, or are the businesses going to pay for it?
Steve Craig
12:13 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
It seems like Plymouth does have lots of police, and I realize they can't be every where at all times, but video cameras seems like lots of money for very little benefit. Also, cameras would collect evidence but won't deter crime like the presence of police do. I have very conflicted feelings about video cameras in public spaces capable of monitoring the 99% of us that are law abiding so on occasion they can possibly make it easier to catch a criminal after they break the law. I think I would need conditions on the ground to be much more dangerous or potentially so before I'd be in favor of cameras outside.
john clark
10:00 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Has anyone looked around the downtown? There have been cameras down there for years. Why weren't cameras placed on Penniman when the others were put up?
John McKay
11:28 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Aaron Carbonneau's comment has been removed for violating our terms of service.
Aaron, please watch your language and stay on-topic.