Houston eyes cameras at apartment complexes

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER ^ | 2/15/06 | PAM EASTON

[ActionNewsBill]

HOUSTON -- Houston's police chief on Wednesday proposed placing surveillance cameras in apartment complexes, downtown streets, shopping malls and even private homes to fight crime during a shortage of police officers.

"I know a lot of people are concerned about Big Brother, but my response to that is, if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?" Chief Harold Hurtt told reporters Wednesday at a regular briefing.

Houston is facing a severe police shortage because of too many retirements and too few recruits, and the city has absorbed 150,000 hurricane evacuees who are filling apartment complexes in crime-ridden neighborhoods. The City Council is considering a public safety tax to pay for more officers.

Building permits should require malls and large apartment complexes to install surveillance cameras, Hurtt said. And if a homeowner requires repeated police response, it is reasonable to require camera surveillance of the property, he said.

Scott Henson, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Police Accountability Project in Texas, called Hurtt's building-permit proposal "radical and extreme" and said it may violate the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches.

Andy Teas with the Houston Apartment Association said that although some would consider cameras an invasion of privacy, "I think a lot of people would appreciate the thought of extra eyes looking out for them."

Such cameras are costly, Houston Mayor Bill White said, "but on the other hand we spend an awful lot for patrol presence." He called the chief's proposal a "brainstorm" rather than a decision.

The program would require City Council approval.

[ActionNewsBill]

"...if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"

[iPod Shuffle]

"...if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"

Because Big Brother gets to decide what is "wrong"...

[The_Victor]

Armed neighborhood citizen patrols can actually do something about crime, cameras just let you watch.

[MrNJ]

Why not inside the apartments?
After all,
"...if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"

[vrwc0915]

nothing to worry about comrade

[rattrap]

"I know a lot of people are concerned about Big Brother, but my response to that is, if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"

Somebody tar and feather this ---hole and send him to cuba where he belongs.

[macamadamia]

if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it

Wow, that's deep....and original. Glad he gave it a lot of thought.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

And if a homeowner requires repeated police response, it is reasonable to require camera surveillance of the property, he (Police Chief Harold Hurtt) said.

How about we start with your house, Harold?

[IronJack]

Dear Harrold:

If I'm not doing anything wrong, then why should Big Brother worry about me? The presumption is on the wrong end, jerk!

[AUJenn]

Hurricane evacuees have poured into Birmingham and Atlanta and have committed everything from murder on down. I think it would be interesting to study the crime rates in cities where large numbers of evacuees came and see what happens in the next two years.

[Leatherneck_MT]

"I know a lot of people are concerned about Big Brother, but my response to that is, if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"

Spoken like a True Left wing nanny state maggot.

That "Chief" needs to be unemployed.

[SJSAMPLE]

I guess The Chief won't mind if I place a webcam inside his home, then?

[Gefreiter]

Super- after my family and I are killed and our valuables stolen, the few remaining cops on the force might catch the perps after watching the tapes. Thank you, video camera!

More likely, the camera would pick up where I keep my P220, and what happens when .45 Golden Sabers meet meat.

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

"...if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"

Wow. He actually said this. Out loud. In public.

And is anyone else turned off by a police chief named Hurtt?

[Navy Patriot]

Big city police chiefs are political whores, constitutional criminals and oath violators. The cameras should be in THEIR offices and homes and viewable on the Internet.

[Dead Corpse]

I can't believe that a-hole actually said that. Is he stupid? Or does he realize that "We the People" will do NOTHING about crap like this...

[weegee]

BILLIONS in new stadiums. A failed rail line about to be expanded more. Vigilante group (Guardian Angels) brought to town.

The mayor has failed us by not meeting basic services.

[boomop1]

But don't do no smoking.

[md2576]

Funny how you all are telling this guy off for saying that yet every time I have fought against the Patriot Act and potential domestic spying that is the exact answer I get from you. Hypocrites.

[weegee]

Better idea, put the camera in the jail to make sure the guards behave.