Fayetteville police keeping a closer eye on crime
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Officials say Fayetteville's latest crime fighting tool will make Tuesday's Independence Day celebration safer.
Police will be watching from a new command center where surveillance cameras will feed in images from across the city. It will allow police to spot crime as it happens.
"We are able to -- for example calls for dispatch -- to put cameras in that area, and kind of see what is going on before officers get there," said Fayetteville Police Capt. Lars Paul.
For now, the electronic command center at police headquarters is hooked up to 10 surveillance cameras around downtown and in Festival Park. The city plans to add 18 more cameras around town in the near future.
"They are always recording," said Paul. "So, if something happens in an area we can go back after the fact also and look at the camera footage."
Those first cameras were used during this year's Dogwood Festival, and will be for Tuesday's Independence Day Festival.
"It's definitely been a force multiplier and they are a crime deterrent as well," said Paul.
Last year, Fayetteville hosted the patriotic party after federal budget cuts scrapped Fort Bragg's plans. This year, however, Bragg's fireworks show is back on for Friday night, but Mayor Nat Robertson says everyone can celebrate the July 4 early.
"Anytime you can hear the North Carolina symphony, it's great to have them in America's hometown, and in our own backyard here at Festival Park," said Robertson.
The symphony will take the stage at 8 p.m. The fireworks show will be held after the concert, and all will be under the watchful eye of Fayetteville police.
