VALDOSTA — When it comes to solving crimes, law enforcement relies heavily on technology as an extra set of eyes throughout the city.

Valdosta Police Cmdr. Brian Childress said video surveillance cameras installed throughout the city — to include some housing areas — have been very beneficial in both deterring crime and making arrests after criminal activity has been committed.

“The surveillance cameras have helped out law enforcement tremendously,” Childress said. “They are designed to provide the capability to patrol areas where crimes have been committed.”

The surveillance equipment currently used by the police department has proven to be so successful that others in the business arena are starting to show interests in it.

“Chief (Frank) Simons and I have personally spoken with businesses who are considering using the same surveillance system the police department uses,” said Childress.  

Two of the examples the commander provided when relating to surveilled crimes at businesses were the recent armed robbery at the Certus Bank on Norman Drive and the murder of a homeless man outside of the vacant Loco’s Grill and Pub on Gornto Road.

Detectives with the police department arrested 44-year-old Matthew Balich and charged him with felony murder after a business’ surveillance camera from a nearby business captured images of a person at the scene of the crime where 55-year-old Charles Setser was murdered.

Detectives also retrieved video surveillance from a business in the Aug. 2, 2011, Certus Bank robbery. Police sent it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI matched the footage from that of another crime allegedly committed by the same siblings and were able to send out a nation-wide BOLO (be on the lookout), later resulting in their arrests.

Valdosta Police Lt. Aaron Kirk was one of the first officials to respond to the bank robbery. He told The Times the hope behind displaying the cameras is to keep potential crimes from happening but, when those incidents do occur, the video can provide pertinent details that could possibly lead to arrests.  

“We rely on witnesses but, unfortunately, they are not always able to remember details that could help us in solving the crime,” Kirk said. “The cameras are necessary because they often deter criminals and, in the cases where crimes are committed, they’re often the best form of evidence.”

The lieutenant added that each business is in control of its own camera and the monitoring is not done by the police department.

The businesses are not the only ones utilizing video surveillance. Housing areas are reaping the reward from having the extra set of monitored eyes, watching out for potential offenders. Childress said cameras were recently installed, with the assistance of the Valdosta Housing Authority, in Hudson Dockett as well as in close proximity of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial site.

The Ora Lee West housing community has been under surveillance for years but, due to technical issues, monitoring had been difficult. A new system was recently installed and, immediately, police experienced a positive effect.

“When we installed the new system in the Ora Lee West community,” Childress said, “we were able to make an arrest within minutes of turning the system on. A detective noticed an individual on camera who was violating his no-trespassing order. If that’s not a system at work, I don’t know what is. That’s proof that the cameras work.”

The commander explained just how the surveillance system works in the housing areas and said the department is looking to add more.

“The cameras are hooked up to the department,” he explained. “We can control the movement from there. The footage is recorded and stored on a secure computer server for a certain amount of time. After that, we can keep what we need and recording continues.”

Childress spoke of yet another case where someone was identified while tampering with the MLK Jr. monument.

“After installing the camera at the MLK Jr. memorial, video captured a person tampering with the monument and identification was made in that case as well,” he said.

Footage from a surveillance camera made its way into the murder trial of Richard Morrison. He was convicted of killing his former girlfriend, Tammy Smith, on May 30, 2009. The footage showed the convicted man dumping blood-stained clothing into a dumpster hours before police discussed the discovery of her body with him.

The cameras have added a sense of security and peace to many residents within the city of Valdosta. Childress said he personally visited the Hudson Dockett community and several citizens reveled in telling him how much they appreciate the monitoring devices.  

“We really just hope the cameras will deter crime and assist in arresting offenders,” the commander said.

Funding for the video surveillance cameras came directly from money provided by the Valdosta Housing Authority, grant funds and local budget funds.