In response to a recent spate of violent crimes, Point Defiance Park in Tacoma is making a notable shift in security measures. They’ve decided to ramp up efforts by installing permanent security cameras, redressing the park's lack of recorded surveillance that was highlighted after a recent sexual assault for which there was no video evidence to aid the investigation.
The decision, as reported by KING5 News, comes after Metro Parks Tacoma acknowledged escalating concerns over safety, "This troubling trend has got to get reversed,” Joe Brady, deputy director of Parks and Recreation for Metro Parks Tacoma, said. Previously, the park had removed temporary surveillance cameras because they didn't meet the necessary standards for police use, according to information obtained by FOX13 Seattle.
Officials were considering different security cameras that could provide the needed quality of digital evidence, a transition from the inadequate temporary surveillance they had earlier. “They served as visual deterrents, but for purposes of what the police needed for digital evidence, for crime control, or for establishing a case, they weren’t of quality enough,” Brady explained. The park has identified between 12-15 locations for the new cameras, as revealed in a report by the police and shared with KOMO News.
Park officials feel a sense of urgency in implementing enhanced security measures. With ongoing discussions with security companies, proposals for a more comprehensive security system are being considered to ensure the safety of park-goers. “We need to have a digital footprint of folks that enter the park and where they go,” Brady told KOMO News. With the bolstered security infrastructure, including permanent cameras, the park aims to restore its image as a serene retreat, away from the dark cloud of recent events.
