Reply #11: Harry Lee orders videotaping gatherings of young men in high crime neighborhoods

[chascarrillo]

Harry Lee orders videotaping gatherings of young men in high crime neighborhoods
By Christopher Tidmore, Political Columnist
November 27, 2006

At a press conference on November 21, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee said he would take "extreme measures" to fight the rising homicide rate. Murders in that Parish are up 83% over last year.

Lee who said he doesn't plan to target blacks, but "bad guys," has designated fifteen of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Jefferson, most of which reside on the West Bank, to begin an aggressive program of videotaping groups of young men on street corners to detect drug activity.

The plan according to Lee includes mounting cameras in armored vehicles and patrol cars, as well as positioning them in high-crime areas. The images would go to a master tape, so, Lee said, "we know who's there."

The Sheriff noted that some might consider the actions unconstitutional. He explained, "If the three of us were standing on a street corner, we would be offended if a police car came up and started videotaping us. We would be offended. I don't give a damn. I'm going to do it."

http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20061127m