Lowell, Mass. to Expand Use of Video Surveillance Cameras in High-Crime Areas

The city will fund the new cameras with money from the budget that was initially set aside for a gunshot-detection system.

Published: February 17, 2016SSI Staff

The new cameras will cost $350,000 from the $500,000 set aside for the gunshot-detection system.

LOWELL, Mass. — The Lowell Police Department plans to install more video surveillance cameras across high-crime areas in the city.

The city had initially planned to install a gunshot-detection system with $500,000 set aside for the project. But with a drastic drop in armed robberies and shots fired this past year, City Manager Kevin murphy and Police Superintendent William Taylor decided video surveillance cameras were a better use of the funds, according to a Lowell Sun report.

Dozens of new cameras will be installed in public parks and other areas considered to be high on crime, which will utilize $350,000 of the $500,000 set aside in the budget.

Cameras have previously been installed in other areas around the city using a $30,000 state grant, according to the report.