Oakland is considering installing surveillance cameras along the city's freeways following the horrific death of a toddler on I-880.
Oakland police Chief LeRonne Armstrong said freeway cameras may have shown the cars involved in the shootout that killed 23-month-old Jasper Wu last Sunday.
"We've seen them be successful throughout our city with multiple homicide events that have happened," he told KCBS Radio. "We've solved cases based on video evidence, so we encourage business owners to secure cameras, but we also believe as a city we should have a camera system as well."
Many believe the cameras will help solve crimes, but others have voiced concern on the issue, sparking a debate between safety and the right to privacy.
"That's something that is challenging that we all have to have a conversation about because if it leads to increased safety for one population, but then causes more unsafety for another there’s a trade-off," Councilmember Carrol Fife said. "Do we want to make that as a community?"
Right now, the surveillance cameras are just an idea.
"We'll start with our privacy advisory committee who approves technology, but then it will ultimately come down to the city council," Armstrong said.
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