Mayor Reed's plan for security cameras in APS

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     On Friday afternoon, Mayor Kasim Reed announced a plan to link APS security cameras into a public department massive surveillance network. In the stir of the school shooting at Price Middle School and a number of additional shootings, Reed believes this plan will protect the students in Atlanta Public Schools from having to endure any more senseless violence of the sort that has already taken place. 

   “Just like we can put eyes on Peachtree Street, we need to be able to put our eyes on the schools. In the event there is a tragedy, it will allow us to deploy our police to the campus much faster, and it will give us eyes on the ground,” Reed stated.

   Reports rapidly spread to parents as the Atlanta Public Schools system began to notify parents and staff through pre-recorded calls.  

   APS cameras are not yet integrated into the Loudermilk Video Integration Center, a complex that’s serves as the Atlanta Police’s expansive surveillance hub. The Atlanta Police Department, APD, will treat the affiliation similar to other public-private partnerships that currently maintains with organizations such as MARTA.

   For the time being APD is evaluating the school system surveillance network to see if the integration can in fact take place.

By Alexis Bohannon