Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett joins other officials at a news conference Friday at Wild Flour Bakery to announce a pilot program that will bring surveillance cameras to more commercial corridors in Milwaukee. Credit: Rick Wood

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Milwaukee officials Friday launched a pilot program that will bring more police-monitored surveillance cameras to city commercial corridors.

And if the city can find additional resources, including private support, city residents may one day see as many as 500 cameras watching for criminal activity.

Already there are several dozen cameras in place in some commercial areas of the city through a program called Operation Impact. That program, backed by Ald. Bob Donovan, has been credited for making some commercial areas on the south side safer.

Mary Nehlsen, who runs Sunnyside Inn, 3026 W. Lincoln Ave., is a believer in surveillance cameras. She has four cameras outside her tavern, thanks to Operation Impact, and says it helps keep her business safe and provides comfort to her customers.

Now, the city hopes to take surveillance via digital cameras to a new level, using federal dollars, money from the Police Department's asset forfeiture program and support from individual businesses and business improvement districts.

The plan was unveiled at a news conference outside Wild Flour Bakery at S. 28th St. and W. Lincoln Ave. Attending were Mayor Tom Barrett, Police Chief Edward Flynn and Aldermen Michael Murphy, José Perez and Donovan, all of whom said the addition of cameras is about making neighborhoods safer.

"By having these cameras, we've got an extra set of eyes," Barrett said.

Flynn called the pilot program an ideal model of public-private partnership. His communications division will monitor the cameras for crime activity.

"A robust camera surveillance system in our commercial areas is a crime-solving tool," Flynn said.

"I've long been a believer in the power of surveillance programs...," Donovan said. "It's common sense that if people know they are being monitored they behave themselves accordingly.

"I'm very pleased this effort is moving to other parts of Milwaukee."

Chris Ahmuty, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, said the addition of more cameras raises concerns.

"The ACLU of Wisconsin believes that before city officials become addicted to another form of high-tech surveillance, they need to explain what guidelines will be in place to protect innocent residents from prying eyes. Just because the technology exists doesn't mean we should let it control our lives," he said.

The additional cameras will be placed in police districts on the east, southwest and north sides of the city. Those are districts 2, 3, 5 and 7.

The $250,000 matching grant fund will be funded with $100,000 in community development block grant money and $150,000 from money police confiscate in criminal cases.

Under the plan, individual businesses or business improvement districts have to apply to the Safe and Sound program, which will administer the effort. Katie Sanders, director of Safe and Sound, said qualified businesses or groups would have to provide $1,200, which would be matched by the city.

The pilot program runs only through this year. Murphy said the program would be evaluated and, if found to be successful, "we will try to raise money privately and otherwise to expand it."

Officials said it's too early to say how many cameras will be added in 2014. Businesses and business improvements districts have to file applications. The city will ensure the businesses' licenses are in good standing.

Nehlsen said the video from her cameras feeds into a laptop at her tavern. If need be, the Police Department can monitor the cameras, too.

"It's the best thing," she said of the cameras.

A few years ago, Nehlsen said, the cameras helped police identify four men who were involved in a drug deal gone bad in the neighborhood.

Barrett said it was his hope the program would not be isolated to certain police districts. "In all parts of the city I want to make sure they have surveillance cameras," he said.

Added Flynn: "Our goal obviously is to put it where it is needed."

"You have to start somewhere," Flynn said. "It's our belief that as we roll this out, it clearly will develop momentum."

Flynn said his department had adequate resources to monitor the camera system. If more cameras are added in the future, Flynn suggested officers who are injured or who are on light duty could be employed to monitor the cameras.

"I think we will be able to manage this as it rolls out," he said.