State College Police to Install More Surveillance Cameras Downtown

State College police are expected to install additional law enforcement surveillance cameras downtown this spring.

State College police Lt. Keith Robb says the department will be expanding its surveillance program to include most major intersections. Cameras will also be going in near popular bars.

Currently, there are cameras at the intersection of Beaver Avenue and Garner Street, in the “Canyon” area and on Calder Way.

“It’s the wave of the future,” Robb says. “The best witness is a video camera.”

Robb says the cameras help prevent crime and help investigators solve crimes, from assaults to drug dealing to crashes to vandalism. When police receive a report of a crime, investigators can refer to the video to see what exactly occurred and identify suspects and witnesses.

Additionally, police can pull images from video after a crime and use those images to catch a suspect by releasing the images to the public. State College police frequently release surveillance video from outdoor cameras as well as retail establishments and apartment complexes to catch criminals.

For example, in January, police released surveillance images from Walmart on Benner Pike seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspects in a stolen credit card case. The six suspects were later identified.

“It’s going to be an invaluable tool for us,” Robb says.

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