The Danville City Council has approved the purchase of cameras for Danville’s city parks and their surrounding areas. Forwarded to the full council two weeks ago by the Public Services Committee, this will apply to ten city parks and the Douglas Discovery Garden; with a purchase from Heartland Business Systems for just under $196,800. This on going effort to place cameras in Danville’s parks received additional attention after the June Winter Park shooting death of 18-year-old Aniyah Davis.
At Public Services two weeks ago, Danville Police Criminal Intelligence Analyst John Marshall Fender, Jr stated that proactive strategies would be used to both help prevent tragedies after the cameras are put in, as well as in deciding which parks will be receiving the cameras first. At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, Police Chief Christopher Yates emphasized that once again.
AUDIO: Everything that we do is intelligence driven. And our crime intel analyst is a big part of this whole program; in determining where they need to be, how they need to be used. Our patrol commanders, as far as giving recommendations, and going over that. In fact, I’ve got a meeting coming up on Thursday to go over some file touches with them.
(1st Picture) Kayla Son is sworn in by Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr as Danville’s new Deputy City Clerk. (3rd Picture) Staff from Danville Aquatic Center in Garfield Park is honored, prior to upcoming closing for season on Sunday, August 10th.
Meanwhile, some recent arrest incidents of drivers in Danville have included suspects from out of town; such as from Bloomington, Gary, or Chicago. Chief Yates says that while investigations are still taking place as far as why the perpetrators were in the area; the main lesson should be, “visitors are welcome in Danville, but not if they desire to cause trouble.”
AUDIO: If anything, it sends a message that if you want to come to Danville to visit, have a good time; have at it. If you want to create problems, coming to Danville, you might want to find some other place or stay home.
In other Tuesday night full Danville City Council action, approval was given to the Public Services Committee’s move to purchase the old VFW building at 8 Pine Street. Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr had told CIMG the night of Public Services’ vote that he was hoping for the old VFW site “to be part of a greater redevelopment for some existing businesses.” Alderman Doug Ahrens asked the mayor during Tuesday’s full council meeting if there would be more information on that soon. Mayor Williams was affirmative that there would be.
