Should Portland police have surveillance cameras in Old Town? - KPTV - FOX 12
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The Portland City Council could vote today on a plan to install surveillance cameras on private property in Old Town.
Police say the cameras would help them cut down on drug dealing in public spaces in the high-crime area.
Officers on patrol would be able to monitor the video feeds from their smartphones with internet connections.
Police have not said the number of cameras that would be used or exactly where they would be placed.
The city would pay for the cameras and property owners would be released from liability.
Large cities, such as New York City and San Francisco, have been using similar systems for some time.
But the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups here in Portland oppose the plan, citing privacy concerns and question about effectiveness.
Several groups, including the Oregon Progressive Party, will hold a protest rally outside City Hall at 9 a.m., shortly before city leaders are expected to address the issue.
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