New ordinance calls on Jackson store owners to install cameras tied to city’s blue light cameras
This week, the Jackson City Council approved a measure that requires store owners to install cameras that tie into the city’s blue light camera network.“How many of these citizens in this city got to be robbed and killed at these service stations?” City Councilman Kenneth Stokes said.The ordinance was introduced Tuesday by council Vice President Angelique Lee, who said it needed to go back to committee for a final review. But council members were ready to take a vote, saying the ordinance could be amended before it goes into effect May 23.“I would even support that we pass it today and then if we need to do some amendments later, we can bring it back,” Stokes said. “We need this on the books like yesterday.”Stokes called the convenience stores the worst thing in the world, citing violent crimes, prostitution and drug hubs. Jackson police Assistant Chief Vincent Grizell confirmed the correlation of violence and these stores. “We have noticed over the years, there has been some major store violence,” Grizell said. “You just had a store (owner) off of Capitol Street a few months ago that was attacked inside his store.”That same store was closed Thursday. People in the area said the closure was temporary and followed the attack that led to the death of one person.Under the ordinance, store owners would be required to install digital security cameras to cover both the entryway to convenience stores and outside in the parking lot. The cameras would connect to the Jackson Police Department’s existing blue light camera network. If the stores already have cameras, they must endure the existing devices can connect to the internet and meet other requirements under the ordinance.
This week, the Jackson City Council approved a measure that requires store owners to install cameras that tie into the city’s blue light camera network.
“How many of these citizens in this city got to be robbed and killed at these service stations?” City Councilman Kenneth Stokes said.
The ordinance was introduced Tuesday by council Vice President Angelique Lee, who said it needed to go back to committee for a final review. But council members were ready to take a vote, saying the ordinance could be amended before it goes into effect May 23.
“I would even support that we pass it today and then if we need to do some amendments later, we can bring it back,” Stokes said. “We need this on the books like yesterday.”
Stokes called the convenience stores the worst thing in the world, citing violent crimes, prostitution and drug hubs. Jackson police Assistant Chief Vincent Grizell confirmed the correlation of violence and these stores.
“We have noticed over the years, there has been some major store violence,” Grizell said. “You just had a store (owner) off of Capitol Street a few months ago that was attacked inside his store.”
That same store was closed Thursday. People in the area said the closure was temporary and followed the attack that led to the death of one person.
Under the ordinance, store owners would be required to install digital security cameras to cover both the entryway to convenience stores and outside in the parking lot. The cameras would connect to the Jackson Police Department’s existing blue light camera network.
If the stores already have cameras, they must endure the existing devices can connect to the internet and meet other requirements under the ordinance.
