Syracuse University will continue to add more security cameras throughout campus in order to provide better safety in certain areas.

Currently, there are approximately 500 security cameras at SU, said Mike Kearns, manager of technical services for the Department of Public Safety.

There are areas on campus, and some entrances to buildings, that would still benefit from cameras, Kearns said.

Other cameras are installed in public places, such as entrances to buildings, walkways and pathways, he said.

“Cameras are a huge help with providing safety and security on campus,” Kearns said. “They’ve helped solve many crimes in the past.”

SU has installed cameras for many years now, and the trend will most likely continue, Kearns said. Using cameras as a form of surveillance and safety is now a standard practice at most universities.

The expansion of security cameras is a “long-established strategy within DPS to provide more surveillance,” said Tony Callisto, chief of DPS.

When Callisto arrived at SU in 2006, there were only 100 cameras, he said. The goal was to continue to add cameras to an integrated system that reported back to one central monitoring system.

The additional cameras will be added to campus roadways, pathways and entrances to buildings and residence halls on Main and South campuses, Callisto said.

“These cameras will help in investigating incidents that happen on campus,” he said.

For example, if a burglary occurs, the perpetrator may be seen fleeing the scene on multiple different cameras, allowing for more information in identifying him or her, he said.

“I think cameras will give a sense of security,” said Jon Lee, a junior information management and technology and policy studies dual major.

Walking around campus safely has never been a major concern, he said.

“But it is important to note that cameras would mostly be useful in identifying victims or attackers,” Lee said. “Not in preventing attacks from happening.”

As a second-year architecture student, Lisa Chan said she walks home late many weeknights.

“I think security cameras are largely ineffective because they don’t seem to deter bad guys,” Chan said. “However, positioning a few more DPS officers around campus would really be comforting.”

Adding more security is never a bad decision, said Marissa Dutka, a sophomore nutrition major.

“It’s always better to be safe than sorry,” she said.

Dutka said she believes the installation of more cameras on campus will be effective regarding campus safety and crime.

“I think it would make the campus safer, because just the idea that a crime would be caught on camera would prevent it from happening,” she said.

The demand for more cameras on campus will allow SU to continue installing them to add security to areas that need coverage, Kearns said.

Said Kearns: “Cameras have been a valuable tool for us solving crimes, and I don’t see that going away.”

Published on October 31, 2012 at 10:07 pm

Contact Jen: jbundy@syr.edu