Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Houston eyes cameras at apartment complexes
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER ^ | 2/15/06 | PAM EASTON

Posted on 02/16/2006 12:12:49 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 1984; 4thecommongood; bigbrother; donutwatch; forthechildren; houston; hurricaneevacuees; policestate; texas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last
To: ActionNewsBill
"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.

You first, Wiggums. I want to know if you keep your crapper scrubbed, so make sure there's enough lighting to see.

21 posted on 02/16/2006 1:00:31 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government "job" attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill
How about a freakin tax on all the dang illegals [said mockingly out of frustration].
22 posted on 02/16/2006 1:00:52 PM PST by Texas_Jarhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hank Rearden

The public have no right to oversee public safety operations! doubleplussungood


23 posted on 02/16/2006 1:02:39 PM PST by vrwc0915 ("Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill
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.

He's just looking for a way to peep on couples having sex.

Pervert.

24 posted on 02/16/2006 1:03:15 PM PST by shekkian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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

If the guards aren't doing anything wrong, why whould they worry about it?

25 posted on 02/16/2006 1:03:40 PM PST by null and void (<---- Aged to perfection, and beyond...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Their 3 unions would throw a fit.


26 posted on 02/16/2006 1:04:28 PM PST by weegee (We are all Danes now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: weegee

We also need cameras at the union halls, if they are are not doing anything wrong, why should they worry about it?


27 posted on 02/16/2006 1:06:22 PM PST by null and void (<---- Aged to perfection, and beyond...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill

Yikes!


28 posted on 02/16/2006 1:06:34 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Expect a lot of videotapes to be "lost".


29 posted on 02/16/2006 1:07:47 PM PST by weegee (We are all Danes now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: weegee

Nahhh, lets make them all webcams...


30 posted on 02/16/2006 1:09:10 PM PST by null and void (<---- Aged to perfection, and beyond...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: null and void

The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.


--- OR ----
BANDWIDTH EXCEEDED


31 posted on 02/16/2006 1:12:38 PM PST by weegee (We are all Danes now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill
The program would require City Council approval.

(for now)

32 posted on 02/16/2006 1:13:47 PM PST by weegee (We are all Danes now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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

Let's put one in the chief's office. If he isn't doing anything wrong, he won't care.

33 posted on 02/16/2006 1:15:43 PM PST by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: weegee

Good point.


34 posted on 02/16/2006 1:16:00 PM PST by null and void (<---- Aged to perfection, and beyond...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill
"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?"

Excellent, your under my spell.

35 posted on 02/16/2006 1:17:21 PM PST by HEY4QDEMS (Learn from the past, don't live in it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

They already have "red light cameras" even though I believe the state legislature may prohibit their use (are they still in a "trial phase" in Houston?).


36 posted on 02/16/2006 1:18:43 PM PST by weegee (We are all Danes now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill
"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?"

Damned Nazis.

37 posted on 02/16/2006 1:19:11 PM PST by Centurion2000 ("If you're going to shoot somebody, Shoot! Don't talk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 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.

"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.

Yeah.  I noticed the disconnect, too.  Maybe this is a more individualistic group of posters.

All this surveillance may be necessary, but I want the watchers closely watched, and I want these laws and ordnances under some kind of rigorous sunset provision.

The law is not always for the protection of the people.  Sometimes it work simply to make the law's job easier and profitable.

38 posted on 02/16/2006 1:19:23 PM PST by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Racehorse

Funny how no one had refuted what I said. I was expecting to get flamed. Perhaps they see that I am right. I have bookmarked this thread for reposting when I get this same argument thrown at me for fighting against the Patriot Act. Sunset clauses are great yet I have hardly seen the government ever give back powers it has received.


39 posted on 02/16/2006 1:25:11 PM PST by md2576 (If we are at war then can you tell me WHEN can I can start asking questions?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: weegee
We have them here. If you never run a red light why worry?

Oddly enough, the yellow cycle on camera monitored intersections was found to be significantly shorter on San Diego's signals.

The fact that the private contractor who controlled the cycles had a deal with the city to share the revenue had absolutely nothing to do with the sort yellows...
40 posted on 02/16/2006 1:26:32 PM PST by null and void (<---- Aged to perfection, and beyond...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson