DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — High-tech security cameras are now installed at four locations along Main Street in Daytona Beach.
The cameras are an added layer of protection that would allow law enforcement to respond quickly to any incident in the area, city leaders said.
It’s beneficial to have the extra set of eyes, especially during special events like Bike Week, World’s Most Famous Brewery owner Thomas Caffrey said.
“Main Street is literally the name Main Street. So, we should have kind of the best of the best, and adding those cameras really is important as a business owner for safety and customers and all of that, so I love it,” Caffrey said.
City staff used existing infrastructure to install and configure the cameras at Halifax Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, Peninsula Drive and Main Street Bridge.
Daytona Beach Zone 2 City Commissioner Ken Strickland allocated $68,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the cost.
“Just to make our residents and our tourists safer. Anything we can do to do that and maintain the security of our city,” Strickland said.
The camera feeds are streamed to the Beachside police substation located on Grandview Avenue.
“And you can monitor what’s going on. And those things will help us to see what’s happening, maybe avert some trouble and also be able to use those cameras if something does happen to track down the culprits, you know, the perpetrators,” Strickland said.
The city also has plans to add more cameras with additional locations selected for future installation.
“We’ve had a local person have a camera on the corner of the spot right here (at the Main Street area brewery location) for a long time. So, I’ve always been able to watch my business because it actually faces my business,” Caffrey said. “So, it’s fun. But with this being said, having actual city, having accountability is very important.”
City leaders and business owners agree these cameras will contribute to a safer future of the area.
“Most businesses nowadays already have cameras, but this is just an added layer of protection to be able to monitor what’s going on our streets,” Strickland said.
City officials said they plan to have more cameras installed at three other locations on Main Street — including Oleander Avenue, Grandview Avenue and Wild Olive Avenue.
