San Jose Introduces Mobile Security Units – NBC Bay Area

San Jose is relying on mobile security forces in hopes of deterring crime.

City leaders hope mobile security units' booming voice recording and video cameras will help reduce crime.

“We can never be everywhere at once,” said Police Chief Paul Joseph. “These cameras allow us to take a look at the location where a problem is occurring. Hopefully this will prevent a crime from occurring in the first place, but unfortunately if a crime does occur they will provide us with evidence so we can identify them. arrest and prosecute a suspect.

Currently, one unit is stationed at Lion Plaza and another across Tully Road, but that could change.

“These cameras can be mobile, they don’t have to be stationary in one area. We can move them anywhere our business owners deem strategic to prevent crime,” said City Council Member Domingo Candelas.

Some people have expressed concerns about the privacy and retention period of images captured by the cameras.

“We do not routinely store all of this data, so there is no retention policy as we do not store images unless there is a crime,” Joseph said.

San Jose isn't the only city using this technology. San Francisco introduced similar units last month.