Medina recording license plates of all cars entering city

In the early afternoon hours last February 26, a glass window was shattered at a Medina home and burglars stole electronic equipment, jewelry, and cash. The home was entered during the short one-hour period the residents were away. The burglars walked away with $11,000 worth of goods.

If the thieves were to happen upon the home today, Medina Police would have a jump start on catching the criminals or at least the vehicle they drove. The city recently installed cameras at the main intersections entering the Medina community as part of the city's Public Safety Camera System.

A sign that reads: "You Are Entering a 24 Hour Video Surveillance Area" sits street level below the multiple high-tech surveillance cameras perched high above the cars as they enter city limits. The Fixed Camera License Plate Recognition (LPR) System captures every vehicle license plate, creates data records and logs the license plates, then generates alert notifications to the Medina Police Department as "target vehicles" are identified.

The Medina City Council unanimously approved the cameras in 2007 after Medina reported a steep rise in burglaries.

The February burglary was one of many that took place over the last several years leading up to the approval of the new surveillance system.

"This is a continuation of an apparent upward trend of burglaries our community has experienced dating back to the end of 2008 which is paralleling the national trend during this poor economy," Chief of Police Jeffery Chen wrote in a Community E-lert sent out to Medina residents. "In balance with our existing resources, the Medina Police Department is looking to increase our proactive and reactive patrols,..." he added.

Similar surveillance video cameras were installed at the traffic circle entrance to the Hunts Point community back in 2005. According to Chen, the 500 or so Hunts Point residents have not experienced a residential burglary since. Medina provides police patrol for Hunts Point.

While Medina residents are sitting comfortably with the new round-the-clock surveillance, others outside of the community feel the system violates privacy issues.

Peter Khan, an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, supports the proposition that people need and value privacy.

"I think Medina is running roughshod over people's need and right to privacy. Their policy is an egregious affront," Khan said, adding, "Their policy should be overturned."

Medina Council members approved the Public Safety Camera System, stating crime prevention outweighs concern over privacy.

The LPR System automatically alerts officers when stolen cars enter Medina. All information captured by the surveillance cameras is stored for 60 days, whether it raises red flags or not. The data is also used by police to recall footage, and cross-check license plate numbers and time stamps to find out who was in the area when a crime occurred.

"True, we can adapt to less and less privacy in our lives. We can also adapt to polluted air and overcrowded conditions. It doesn’t mean that because we adapt, we thrive," Khan said. "Privacy is a universal value. It needs to be upheld for people to flourish. There are other ways to ensure people’s safety in a community than what Medina is doing."

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.

Contact Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer Lindsay Larin at llarin@bellevuereporter.com or 425-453-4602.

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