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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Nashville’s Metro Council voted Tuesday to reject a controversial proposal that would have allowed law enforcement officials to gain access to surveillance cameras privately owned by local businesses.
The final vote had a slim margin of 20-18, but it failed to meet the required 21 votes approval threshold. Councilwomen Sandy Ewing and Jennifer Gamble were both absent from the meeting.
The Council ultimately made the decision not to adopt the plan that would have established a contract with Fusus, the company that would have pulled video footage from private cameras and shared it with local police.
MNPD actually implemented the Fusus system in 2022, setting up a network of over 1,000 registered cameras across the city. However, in February of this year, the Metro Council halted that contract because MNPD failed to obtain Council approval, which is required according to Metro code.
For almost the last year, Mayor Freddie O’Connell has pushed for the Council’s approval of the proposal, arguing that it would help expedite criminal investigations.
Opponents have countered that the contract would open individuals up to the possibility of a breach of privacy. Others have questioned whether the system could be used to target the homeless or illegal aliens.
Last month, the Council opted to defer their vote on the resolution, requesting that an amendment be created to put additional safeguards in the contract. That amendment, which more clearly explained what would be considered a misuse of the system, was passed, but approval of the contract failed in the end after an hour and a half long debate.
During that discussion, Councilmember Jeff Preptit, who represents District 25, was one of several members who expressed concern over the contract. Preptit said the Council should instead prioritize solving some of the underlying issues that lead to increased crime instead of systems that deal with it after it has already occurred.
Councilwoman Ginny Welsch of District 16 stated that, despite changes being made to the original contract, it still was not enough to make it beneficial for residents.
“I don’t think that you can put lipstick on a pig, and I don’t think that anything’s going to make this bill better for the citizens of Nashville,” Welsch said.
O’Connell released a statement Wednesday morning, sharing his thoughts on the failure of the resolution.
“I’m disappointed that Metro Council was unable to pass a Fusus contract update that offered clear benefit to the safety of Nashville. Not only will Metro Police not get a helpful tool, but they will also lose existing Fusus tools that they have been using to dispatch officers to residents in need and identify officers’ locations,” O’Connell said.
MNPD Chief John Drake also expressed disappointment in a statement to the press, noting that his priority is ensuring safety for Nashville residents.
“We will not give up on doing everything we can for the men and women of our police department, for the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County,” Drake stated. “We will continue our investment in keeping the community safe.”
One Response
Wouldn’t need such if criminals were PUNISHED, not coddled.