More cameras — not used for issuing tickets for speeding, but rather to help law enforcement in solving crimes — could be on the way in LaFollette.
The LaFollette City Council will decide, likely in May, whether to add more cameras.
The council voted during its meeting on Sept. 5 to install 11 cameras at various spots in the city.
“I have a quote on installing 11 cameras throughout the city, and in that quote, it will give you the locations that these cameras will be installed,” City Administrator Stan Foust said at the city’s workshop on Aug. 28. “And they will be Beech Street; South Tennessee; Seargeant Park; the rear parking lot; the breezeway; Central Avenue; North Tennessee Avenue; the alleyway between the old Shelby’s Grocery Store and Lindsay’s Furniture, Habitat, that alleyway through there; and Freeman Corner. The quote came in at $9,565. I’m asking you all to appropriate that money, so we can move forward with having these cameras installed throughout the city.”
The vote was unanimous back then to do so.
Then at its Oct. 3 meeting, the LaFollette City Council voted to amend its procedures and policy for the LaFollette Police Department in regard to a policy adding flock cameras.
That vote was also unanimous to do so.
Mayor Cliff Jennings asked for more cameras to be put on the agenda for the city council’s workshop meeting on Monday night.
“It’s not very expensive, and we’ve already had three accidents that we have solved because we had it on film,” Jennings said. “And it makes it a lot easier on the police department, and what I would suggest, that we put a camera on each red light we have, for the purpose of protecting ourselves.”
Jennings asked LaFollette Police Chief Steve Wallen if the additional cameras would help.
“Absolutely, as far as investigating an accident scene,” Wallen said.
Foust said he would get a quote of what it would cost by the May meeting.
“And just for clarification, these are not traffic speeding cameras,” Vice Mayor Wayne Kitts said.
Foust said, “They’re not ticketing cameras.”
Jennings said, “No, they’re not speeding cameras. They’re there to protect you.”
Kitts said, “And it’s the best thing that we’ve done.”
Foust said, “Oh, I agree, wholeheartedly.”
Wallen said, “You’re just going to get a whole lot more requests for video footage.”
Kitts said, “Well, it’ll help us solve — and you solve — a few crimes that’s happening around the city by just looking at a camera. The requests, you’ve got people in the office that could handle that, don’t you, up front?”
Wallen said, “We’re doing the best we can.”
Kitts said, “Well, we could do better, I’d say. You can do the best you can. There’s always a little bit of room for improvement.”
