Image Credit: Councilwoman Sandra Sepulveda District 30 / Facebook & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
As the Metro Council continues to deliberate on a contract that would allow police to access real time camera footage from private businesses, many have expressed concerns regarding the potential for privacy breaches.
One Metro Council member, however, is concerned that the cameras could be used to force out illegal aliens.
The agreement would allow Metro Police to integrate FUSUS, a camera system that would give them access to a network of private security cameras. Proponents of the contract say using the system would help MNPD speed up criminal investigations and fight crimes.
Metro Council Member Sandra Sepulveda (District 30) is concerned that the federal government would utilize the new system to try to fight against illegal immigrants in the city.
“What’s to stop the federal government from giving ICE the power of saying there is probably cause that this technology that is being housed in MNPD precinct would be used to try and let’s say, harbor, undocumented people?” Sepulveda asked.
Metro Police Deputy Chief Chris Gilder noted that the federal government does not have the authority to micromanage the local police force.
“They can’t tell me to patrol this street or kick in this door or pull up a camera here. I don’t know (of a) legal mechanism for them to do that,” he said.
Sepulveda responded, “That might be true at the moment. My fear is what are the possibilities going into January?”
The Metro Council is scheduled to vote on the contract next month.
3 Responses
I don’t like public cameras based on privacy. However finding and expelling illegal aliens should be a priority in ever city town and state in this country. Maybe we should send her to Columbia to explore the issue.
We have to stop conceding the language to the Marxists. It’s not “undocumented immigrants”, the statutory term is “illegal aliens”.
I hope Chief drake recalculated the number of police cruisers needed in those areas where the council member voted no. One can only assume they are soft on crime, going out of their way to stop a proven method of reducing crime.