City Will Use Cameras to Monitor Trinidad Area

The Trinidad neighborhood will be getting up to 30 video cameras on the streets to deter crime, officials announced today.

The cameras, which will allow D.C. police to constantly monitor the area, are part of a Safe City program, which is funded by Target and Sprint Nextel. Installation will begin in May, officials said.

The city's participation in the program was announced today by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. Residents of the Ward 5 neighborhood where the cameras will be installed also attended the announcement at the Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center.

Safe City is a new program that has been used in Baltimore, Boston, Denver and Compton, Ca.

Fenty said the program should help continue to reduce crime in the area. Lanier, who resides in the Trinidad neighborhood, said crime is down about 5 percent generally in the past month.

A representative from Target presented Lanier with a check for $260,000. Sprint Nextel will provide block captains and neighborhood ANC commissioners with about 200 cell phones that can be used to call 911.