Burbank Believes Pioneer Park Cameras are a Success

08.13.2009 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) The Salt Lake City Police Department believes its decision to install surveillance cameras six months ago at Pioneer Park has led to a drop in crime in the area.  Police Chief Chris Burbank says the cameras have deterred drug dealers from distributing in the park and dispersed them elsewhere.

“When we can interrupt that flow, that nice free flow that has existed in Pioneer Park in years past, we are certainly impacting crime.  We are making it more difficult for the criminals to do business,” he told KCPW.

There have been two felony drug distribution arrests at the park since the cameras were installed.  The department says it’s tracking where dealers who were using the park are now going, and has stepped up patrols in those areas, like on 200 South nearby the park.

Although the department hasn’t made any decision to install more cameras elsewhere in the city, Burbank says some in the community believe that would be a good idea.

“I’ve had some businesses downtown that have indicated, it might be useful in front of ours, or in the Sugar House area.  I’ve also some residents had community groups that say we have these areas, especially along the Jordan River Parkway, where we have these problems.  Maybe a camera would be something to work there,” he said.

According to data released by the department, officers were called to Pioneer Park 148 times in July of 2008.  That dropped to 93 in July of this year.  Burbank says residents are also using the park more frequently for legitimate, recreational visits.