VIDEO: An Extra Pair of Eyes

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Downtown Starkville is getting a security upgrade.

Police are installing surveillance cameras along Main Street to keep an eye on the extra traffic this Fall.

Surveillance cameras aren’t new to Starkville, but Police saw the need to add more.

This comes at a perfect time, as thousands are expected to flood into Starkville for home football games, festivals, and Bulldog Bash.

“The main reason for the cameras was to be our eyes when we’re not there. Of course, we have patrol officers out there patrolling their beats, and they can’t be everywhere at the same time. With those cameras, we monitor those cameras back at our dispatch at headquarters,” said Starkville PD Chief, Frank Nichols.

For the last three years, Starkville PD has used surveillance cameras in the main street and cotton district areas and they’re looking to expand.

“Initially, we had two cameras on Main Street, and they got to be of age. with the growth of Starkville and additional foot traffic on main Street, gong from the cotton district to downtown, we definitely saw the need to have more cameras,” explained Nichols.

Police Chief Frank Nichols says SPD has already seen the benefit of the extra eyes in the sky.

“We’ve solved a lot of crimes using these cameras. It helps us, even though the crime may not occur right there and then in front of the camera. If the suspect walked in that area, we’re able to at least make them a suspect because they were in that area and the camera caught them at that time,” said Nichols.

A grant is helping foot the bill for several additional cameras and technology is better than before.

“There’s an S-D card. For a critical incident, that’s running 1080p, like 30 or 60 frames per second. I think it’s 30. Anyway, good video. It stores on board, and it beams it up through here,” explained Starkville PD Corporal, Brandon Lovelady.

The additions and upgrades come at a perfect time, as Starkville is preparing for a busy weekend.

“This is our first event of the Fall season, the Bulldog Bash. We want to definitely make sure that all of the people out there have a good time and they are safe at the same time. Like I said, we can’t be everywhere, so we want to utilize those cameras to make sure that if anything does happen, which we’re not expecting anything to happen, the cameras would catch it,” said Nichols.

The extra cameras should be operational in the next few days.

Nichols tells us the department is also looking to getting a drone.