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[Insert "George Orwell, 1984" reference wherever appropriate.] The NYPD wants you! A new Web site encourages the good citizens of New York City to report on bad citizens suspected of criminal activity. It’s easy now to submit “e-tips” or upload photos or videos of alleged criminals or crimes in action. The site is nypd-crimestoppers.com. This website is secure, anonymous and has five language options making it more accessible to the general public. A tipster receives an unique identification number for a tip. A call to the Crimestoppers hot line at 800.577-TIPS lets the tipster follow the case’s progress. In September, police began a similar program for cell phone users. With only 13 texts, 4 images and 1 video received so far for that concept, it can’t be said that the public is overwhelmingly embracing the “dirty rat” concept. It takes time for society to be changed. However, one of those tips did lead to an arrest. The NYPD is testing image and video transmission direct to police in the field. In the past 25 years, Crimestoppers has helped police solve 2,500 violent crimes including over 1,000 homicides. Substantiated tips leading to arrest or indictment are eligible to receive up to $2,000 from the New York City Police Foundation. It’s generally known that cell phones and personal computers are easily traceable back to the user. In a time when being Photoshopped is commonplace, it’s hoped that the police are careful in their response to any anonymous received. Bringing crime down to zero and catching real criminals is a good thing and we should all be on board with that effort. How police respond to a SPAM campaign against an innocent person remains to be seen. People, be very sure of your facts before you click that Send button. 
George Orwell’s, “1984” may still be our “Fun City” future. The NYPD plans a $100 million video network for downtown Manhattan. It’s known as “Operation Sentinel.” 3,000 high-tech surveillance cameras to safeguard lower Manhattan against terrorist attacks. The NYCLU wants to see more plan details. They filed suit in court because they believe the police aren’t giving them sufficient information about the video system. Conversely, the police believe they have complied with the NYCLU’s request as best they can without compromising security. The question remains. How will cameras in lower Manhattan (or anywhere for that matter) thwart bombs in planes, trucks, cars or bags from doing horrific damage? That must be answered before spending taxpayer dollars. The government still needs to tighten security around America’s borders, increase the use of detection equipment, organize volunteer civilian patrols and enforce existing criminal laws. Spending money for a camera system that likely won’t deter terrorists, but only take pictures of their destruction seems like the "perfect picture" of wasted money. By the way, has anyone seen a really clear surveillance tape anyway?
There are several groups in Manhattan that employ hardware and software to keep streets safe and clean. One is a non-profit group called The Union Square Partnership. Its members voluntarily walk through the Union Square neighborhood with a handheld ComNET computer (Computer Neighborhood Emergency Tracker). It records things like uneven pavement, graffiti and even stray voltage from lampposts. The info they collect is uploaded into the ComNET computer system which prepares lists of problems. Other Partnership members can then address these problems more quickly. Sounds like a good idea ... while at the same time, taking us one step closer to an Orwellian future.
Officials from both the NYPD and the Parks Department concur that pretty soon, security cameras will be as common as squirrels in New York City’s parks. They say this technology will be used to increase successful prosecutions of those arrested for criminal acts. They also believe these high-tech electronics are effective deterrents of crime. As one who’s read George Orwell’s 1984 (a recommended read in 2008), I’m leery about their concept and conclusions.
It’s a known fact that most inmates released from prison wind up committing crimes again. Sadly, too few are rehabilitated to live respectably within our society. Has a study ever been conducted to determine if crime might drop if sentences for convicted criminals were longer? Or, might the fear of longer sentencing be a more effective deterrent than hidden cameras? Maybe it’s time we got the answers to these questions. I suggest we examine all of our personal safety options before we’re all examined (on camera) ourselves.
