Knoxville City Council approves a bill giving over a million dollars build the new real time crime center.
The 7-2 vote followed a lengthy debate as to what exactly the new Real Time Information Center will provide for the community.
Members of the council raised concerns about potential privacy issues that may arise, however Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel says it will be a tool used exclusively by law enforcement to help investigators generate leads and close cases after crimes occur.
When asked about how KPD planned to use these cameras, citing incidents in other cities where the wrong person was arrested after being “identified” on camera, Noel says, “an image alone will not meet the probable cause for an arrest.”
Noel says the cameras will not be monitored 24/7, with the main goal of the RTIC is being a tool to help track people after they have committed a crime.
Noel says 15 cameras will be owned and operated by the city. The facility is expected to be finished in late August.
