Public Services Approves Police Purchase of Park Cameras and City Acquisition of Old VFW Post 728 Building

 ABOVE: Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates (third from left) and Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr (far right) during Public Works Committee meeting.

By a unanimous 5-0 vote, the Danville City Council Public Services Committee has forwarded to the full council approval for the purchase of security cameras for all ten of Danville’s city parks and their surrounding areas, as well as at the Douglas Discovery Garden.  Police Chief Christopher Yates said the purchase from Heartland Business Systems of Lisle will be for just under $196,800; and that the cost would have been much more if not for the assistance of various city departments, such as Information Technology.

Although the cameras will certainly be used in a “reactive way” after crimes are committed; these cameras will also provide more “proactive” assistance to prevent crimes.  Danville Police Department Criminal Intelligence Analyst John Marshall Fender, Jr stated that proactive strategies will not just be used after the cameras are put in; but also before, helping the department to decide which parks are getting the cameras first.

AUDIO: To be able to predict and determine; where are we going to see higher levels of crime?  What time should I expect to see this type of incident?  And then go forth from that, learn from those incidents what we can do better, and continue to move forward with this system to be even more proactive, less reactive.

In other Danville Police news, Deputy Chief Terry McCord’s final day on this job is this Friday; as he’ll be replacing the retired Rickey Williams, Sr as an instructor in the DACC Criminal Justice Department.

The council committee also forwarded to the full council the city’s purchase of the old VFW Post 728 building at 8 Pine Street.  Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr explained that the new Danville VFW Post 3510, being led by USMC Veteran and State Rep Brandun Schweizer, could not have used this location under state statute.

AUDIO:  That’s not an option for them.  They have to find a new location, because the state VFW has authority over this building.

Mayor Williams sees an existing business or establishment putting the 8 Pine Street location to use.

AUDIO: My hope is that it can be part of a greater redevelopment for some of our existing business.

Funding for the city’s $160,000 purchase would come from the Western Gateway Tax Increment Financing District and Infrastructure Development Fund.