Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) is cutting down on campus crime. The ENMU Police Department in Portales has installed about 100 interior and exterior cameras around campus, according to a report by Connect Amarillo. The cameras are high-definition and have infrared capabilities. They are also responsive to changes in light and provide law enforcement with a live feed of campus.
“They are a viable asset and tool for law enforcement and protecting the campus community. We have been able to use them for a wide variety of cases, from burglary to battery. With the aid of this technology, we have reduced crime,” said Brad Mauldin, ENMU Chief of Police.
“The cameras are a deterrent that have displaced crimes that could have happened on campus. Criminals are aware their acts will be filmed, so they don’t do them here,” he explained. “If the criminal element notices the cameras overlooking a parking lot, it takes away that location’s attractiveness. Auto burglaries have decreased substantially since we put in these cameras.”
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Although the number of cameras make it impossible for police to monitor them all, the technology gives them the ability to pull up footage before responding to an ongoing incident, which improves officer safety.
Mauldin said the installation of the cameras was done in a phased fashion as funding allowed. The cameras are all located in public spaces and do not cover areas where any individual would have an expectation of privacy. They were recently used to identify suspects in a vandalism incident on campus.
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