Plymouth Officials Discuss Adding HD Cameras to Penniman

The City of Plymouth continues to explore the addition of high-definition cameras along Penniman Avenue to thwart alcohol-related incidents.

The city's Liquor License Review Committee, consisting of Mayor Daniel Dwyer, Plymouth City Commissioners Ed Hingelberg and Meg Dooley, City Manager Paul Sincock and Director of Public Safety Al Cox, discussed the costs and benefits associated with implementing cameras Monday at the committee's meeting at Plymouth City Hall.

The need to boost security measures along the street increased in October when two alcohol-related incidents between Oct. 5-7 left at least four people injured.

In one incident, a fight in the vacant lot between the downtown post office and the Plymouth Coffee Bean Company left three injured and one hospitalized. 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.

According to Cox, the addition of five high-definition cameras capable of capturing images in low-light conditions is estimated at $27,000, at least some of which could come from the department's drunken driving forfeiture fund.

The cameras, Cox said, would record onto a DVR recording system, would be activated by motion in the area. The cameras would be able to capture images in dark environments and provide a clear enough image to possibly decipher license plate numbers, Cox said.

Committee members also recommended the city install signs in the area alerting people about the cameras to discourage criminal activity.

The cameras wouldn't be new to downtown Plymouth, however. The city currently has cameras installed elsewhere in high-traffic downtown areas, Cox said.

No action was taken during the meeting, which preceded Monday's Plymouth City Commission meeting.