Without the tape from a surveillance camera perched high above the south foyer entrance at Aledo High School, proving the roles played by students in a recent, violent altercation would be a difficult task.
According to Chawn Gilliland, Aledo ISD chief of police, Aledo High School has well over 30 surveillance cameras in place at the high school alone, and more are being added daily.
“We’re adding more as we speak,” Gilliland said. “Every year we try to add more cameras and more officers.”
On Jan. 25, two Aledo high school students, Richard Mendoza Jr. and Ahmaad Jackson, were involved in a physical altercation.
The entire event was captured on one of the school’s cameras, and according to Gilliland, without that tape, verification of the incident would be almost impossible.
Aledo ISD Superintendent Don Daniel agreed with Gilliland when it came to the important role the cameras play in student safety, adding he feels they also serve as a deterrent for future incidents.
“The cameras play a vital role in helping to protect our students,” Daniel said. “They are in place as part of our student safety plan.”
Weatherford ISD is also on board when it comes to video surveillance.
According to Charlotte LaGrone, community relations coordinator for Weatherford ISD, Weatherford High School is well-equipped with cameras throughout the halls.
“We view the cameras as an extra set of eyes,” she said. “It gives us the ability to verify any incidents that may happen here during the day or night.”
In 2004, Security Management Online conducted a study to determine just how prevalent surveillance cameras were in Texas schools.
A survey of 40 school districts across the state revealed a high number of area schools are on the wagon when it comes to cameras, and most agreed when it came to effectiveness, the technology was top notch.
Thirty out of the 40 districts surveyed had cameras in use.
Of those 30, 18 kept crime statistics before the installation and after. Out of the 18, 16 reported a drop in overall incidents after the cameras were up and running.
When the districts were asked about crime deterrence, 70 percent of the districts with cameras felt the overall perception of the crime level was positively influenced by the installations.
Despite agreeing with the majority when it came to the positive aspects of security cameras on campuses, Gilliland did point out there are some things the cameras just can’t get done.
“Our goal is to maintain a strong presence, and I think we do,” Gilliland said of his department. “The cameras are great, but if the kids want to sneak away they’re going to do it. And if they do, we’ll be right there.”
Local News
February 5, 2007
Surveillance cameras common place in Texas schools
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