The unveiling of the Real Time Intelligence Center (now being called the Real Time Crime Center) was an unwelcome occasion to many in St. Louis, including Drone Free St. Louis. PEP’s director, Jasmin Maurer, laid out some of those concerns to St. Louis Public Radio.
Civil liberties groups said the public had not had enough of a chance to weigh in on the new system.
“This is something that really impacts their day-to-day lives, and the fact that this is taking place without any public input is a real concern,” said Jasmin Maurer of Drone-Free St. Louis. “I don’t understand why they’re afraid of asking the people what they want.”
Any crime reduction from monitoring centers is quickly reversed, Maurer said, as criminals get used to the cameras and learn how to avoid them. She was also concerned by the push to include private cameras.
“They decide where they’re going to be, and then they decide where they want to watch it, and then the police monitor what the private companies think are concerns, instead of the people who live in the communities,” Maurer said.
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