The Kingston Common Council voted 6-3 to transfer $375,000 to the Kingston Police Department to cover the expense of license plate readers. The system will have cameras, supporting software, server engines that capture license plate information and instantly compares plate numbers to a criminal database.
During the public comment period of the council meeting, two callers expressed their support for this transfer.
“Obviously what we are doing today is not working,” said Kingston resident Jean Jacobs. “We have seen an increase in crime in our city from shots fired to unsolved murders … This is definitely a need.”
The cost was funded partially by a New York State Smart City Technology grant in the amount of $225,000 with the other $150,000 coming out of the contingency fund.
In a letter to alderman-at-large Andrea Shaut, Police Chief Egidio Tinti stated that the funding of the license plate readers will “greatly improve the police department’s investigative data collecting ability.”
Tinti said that in the past the data collected by these cameras have been helpful in investigating a number of crimes. Aldermen who were in favor of the fund transfer explained how they believe that most of the crimes occurring in the city of Kingston are from non-residents traveling between New York City and Albany.
“I think this is an important tool for us to invest in,” said aldermen Rennie Scott-Childress. “It is a tool that is used for investigation not enforcement. It’s non-invasive. The key thing here is that it tracks just vehicles. It’s crucial for us because we are a midpoint between Albany and New York City. We are a stop point and close to the thruway. It has led to a fair amount of drug activity that’s involved in transportation of drugs which have led to an increase in criminal activity here.”
Right now, the current system the police department has been using Tinti described as being “limited.”
“As a chair of public safety, I hear the public’s outcry about public safety here in the city of Kingston,” said aldermen Tony Davis. “That is the duty of the council to provide protection to all the citizens and people in the city of Kingston to feel safe, visit, live and raise their children here.”
Those who were against the budget transfer said that they’d rather see an improvement in community policing than technology advancements.
“I also come from a place where I believe public safety is a number one concern in the city of Kingston right now with the increased violence,” said alderwoman Rita Worthington. “My no vote tonight is personal. I’ve thought about this for a long time … too many people have called me saying that they’re more concerned with community policing and getting that right first. In good conscience, I can’t vote for more equipment for the police department until it is representative of the community for which it serves.”
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