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Metro Parks approves surveillance cameras Judith R. Tackett / Nashville City Paper | February 8 2006 The Metro Parks Board approved the purchase of 12 to 16 surveillance cameras Tuesday for parks with high arrests for public indecency pending on funding. Board Chair Justice Adolpho Birch said he wanted to ensure safeguards are in place to keep board members informed about the exact use of the cameras, such as how, where and when parks staff intends to utilize the mobile cameras. The use of cameras in Metro Parks is legal, according to a letter from Metro attorney Tom Cross to Parks Director Roy Wilson. “Although some forms of electronic eavesdropping are barred by both federal and Tennessee law, those statutes generally do not pertain to surveillance that does not capture substantive oral communication,” Cross wrote. “Constitutional considerations, however, do establish limits on the use of government surveillance techniques.” Cross continued that the interpretation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution affords individuals protection from warrantless government surveillance in places “where there exists a reasonable expectation of privacy,” which does not include activities undertaken in full public view. Furthermore, video cameras are not prohibited from capturing events that police officers or other members of the public could observe. Thus, the use of surveillance cameras in public parks is deemed legal. But coming up with the $16,000-$20,000 the cameras would cost is another matter. Wilson said he would explore whether Councilman Michael Craddock would help securing Metro funds. Craddock sponsored the resolution that initiated the use of surveillance cameras to discourage public indecency and prostitution activities in public parks with high arrest rates, especially in Hamilton Creek Park, Two Rivers Park, Cedar Hill Park and the Percy Priest Dam recreational areas. In other action, the Parks Board decided to hold a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for March 16 at the E.S. Rose Park in Edgehill, to allow community input about the proposal from Belmont University to hold its outdoor sports competition at the park. In return, Belmont would pay most of the construction costs for building baseball, softball and soccer fields and a track. Edgehill neighbors requested a public hearing in letters to the parks director and voiced their concern about a private university encroaching into their area and forcing citizens to adhere to their sports schedule. ---------------------------------------------------
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