Christiansburg Town Council has approved the use of grant funds to install cameras for crime prevention.
Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
CHRISTIANSBURG – Christiansburg Town Council voted 5-1 in approval of grant money received for the Christiansburg Police Department to be appropriated for the use of the installation of crime prevention cameras in the town at its April 9 meeting.
A second grant for the Christiansburg Fire Department to be used in the purchasing of small equipment was also approved with a 6-0 vote.
The Virginia State Police grant called HEAT is to be used for the “installation of cameras to help resolve crime in the amount of $12,500,” the meeting agenda stated.
The Virginia Help Eliminate Auto Theft (HEAT) program provides funding to municipalities in setting up a network of cameras that reduce or recover the number of vehicles stolen therefore reducing insurance premiums. The system also has been useful in gathering intelligence on other crimes involving abductions, shootings, hit-and-run incidents, and many other criminal activities. Additional information about the HEAT program is available at www.heatreward.com.
Local resident Patrick Melander addressed the council concerning the police department grant.
“I think that’s a slippery slope into, you know, more and more surveillance,” Melander said. “I don’t even know if Christiansburg already has a bunch of cameras set up…but if we don’t, and this is the start of that, I would highly be against it.”
Melander said that he recommended changing the wording and not using the money for cameras.
Additional funds of $7,500 were also received by the town from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Local Emergency Management Program Grants. The Christiansburg Fire Department will utilize this money for small equipment expenses.
A public hearing is not required for the budget amendments because the total amount of $20,000 is less than 1% of the total approved budget, the agenda stated.
Christiansburg Police Chief Chris Ramsey provided comments and clarification on the camera usage for the town.
“I will have a little bit more information next meeting when I present just about what the police department is doing in general,” Ramsey said. “This money would be used to purchase flock cameras…but those are stationary license plate readers, and it puts you in a network with a company that manages the data, holds all the video. At present, Montgomery County, Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, Roanoke County, Pulaski, Roanoke City, there are jurisdictions all over the place that are using this network.”
Ramsey also clarified that the cameras do not provide constant surveillance for the police department.
The cameras will allow for crime units and police departments to respond to alerts for specific vehicle’s license plates that are identified through the camera network. Ramsey said that this system has already been useful in the immediate area with responding to Amber Alerts and in events like the shooting of two journalists in Roanoke County on Aug. 26, 2015 (www.nytimes.com).
A 5-1 vote in approval of the police department grant appropriation of funds was carried, with Councilwoman Kim Bowman voting against the budget amendment.
In another action by the council, members voted unanimously to approve a resolution declaring April 14-20, 2024, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Also at the April 9, many announcements for activities happening in Christiansburg were shared by Town Manager Randy Wingfield.
A Leaf Giveaway is happening at the Public Works Complex at 250 Scattergood Drive, April 12 and 13.
April 15-26 will mark the Spring Clean-up for the Town of Christiansburg this year.
Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Center will be holding a spring kickoff festival on Saturday April 20, 6-9 p.m.
