The City Controller’s office released an audit condemning the PPD camera program that began during the waning years of the Street Administration.
We’re watching you! 7th & Girard (Technically Philly)
It’s unfortunate that competent administrators are not on top of the camera program to make sure that the system is functioning as designed, the assets are managed properly, and especially the vendors are held accountable for breakdowns and service techs are called out promptly when they are not working.
In addition to that, the Streets Department is sitting on a butt-load of equipment it received right at the time a vendor contract was terminated; so it’s not even known if that equipment will even operate with the existing camera system. If this system is going to work and protect Philadelphian’s lives, it has to be functioning and the footage has to prove useful in prosecutions. Given that half the cameras don’t work, it seems more like this system is a neglected toy rather than a crime-deterring weapon.
