Do You Think Carrollwood Needs Surveillance Cameras?

A few years ago, shootings, robberies and drug deals in the north and central parts of Hillsborough County caused the area to gain notoriety as a hub for major crimes.

So authorities in District 1, which includes part of Ehrlich Road in Carrollwood, held public meetings with residents to brainstorm crime prevention. Eventually, they came up with a plan modeled after the city of Chicago: Installing 20 cameras in a 2.5-mile radius to watch crimes in progress and dispatch authorities to the scene.

The $1.3 million surveillance system, which was paid for using a federal grant, uses cameras that border Fowler Avenue on the south side, Bearss Avenue on the north side, Nebraska on the western end and Bruce B. Downs on the east. The cameras can zoom into license plates after hit-and-runs or catch drug buys as they occur.

"We had a deputy manning the camera, and she watched a robbery in progress," said District 1 Major J.R. Burton, who hopes to install 10 more cameras by year's end. "We directed deputies to the area, and broadcast a photo (of the suspect) to deputies. One deputy knew the guy and arrested him."

Would you support the sheriff's office installing cameras in the heart of Carrollwood, or do you think it would feel like Big Brother is watching you? Is there a particular area in Carrollwood or Northdale you think cameras should go? Tell us in the comments.