The overwhelming majority of respondents to a recent Sun-Sentinel online poll regarding the city of Charleston’s use of cameras for public surveillance said they approve of the measure.
The poll asked, “Do you agree with Charleston’s plan to place surveillance cameras in public spaces around the city?”
The poll was created on The Sun-Sentinel’s website at www.tallahatchienews.ms, and a link to the poll was shared in a post on the newspaper’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TheSunSentinel.
Those who chose to participate in the poll had four options from which to choose.
As of mid-afternoon Monday, there had been 85 votes and the results were as follows:
• Yes: 63 votes (74%)
• No: 12 votes (14%)
• Not sure: 0 votes (0%)
• It depends where they are located: 10 votes (12%)
It is interesting to note the Facebook animated “emoji” reactions and comments readers left below the post. Seven selected the “Love” emoji reaction, a red heart, and 42 chose “Like,” a blue thumbs-up.
It is reasonable to assume that some of the people who left a reaction or comment on Facebook did not click through on the link to proceed to the actual poll.
While most people simply responded “Yes” or “No” to the poll question, a few chose to elaborate.
One Facebook respondent wrote, “As long as you aren’t doing anything illegal, why would you mind? I doubt it will, but hopefully it will help with all the marijuana you can smell everywhere you go in town where it’s being blatantly smoked in public. I bout got high just going from my vehicle into Jiffy the other day.”
Noted someone else, “Are they going to do anything when they catch someone, doubt it.”
“Absolutely. It’s time,” added one participant.
“Past due time for some changes in the small town,” said a feedback provider.
“Heck yeah, every town should have them up,” wrote another respondent.
“Yes just follow thru with what u see,” added one.
A few people voiced displeasure with the plan.
“I do not, we have enough big brother action going on in the world today,” wrote one person.
“No,” said another, without elaborating.
A few people voted against cameras because they said the city should instead focus attention on improving the water quality and the performance of the sewer system. In reality, however, those monies come from a different fund altogether.
Several video surveillance cameras and license plate recognition devices already are in use in the city, with more scheduled to come, according to officials.
For the record, we endorse the use of closed-circuit television cameras in public places for law and order purposes.
Obviously, we hope the cameras will deter some would-be criminals, but the reality is that the greater use for the devices might be aiding lawmen in identifying and apprehending lawbreakers after the fact. Cameras record crimes in progress, capture images of getaway vehicles and the like.
In the end, we must realize that cameras are merely another tool for law enforcement. And tools are helpful only in the hands of someone who knows how to use them properly.
