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cameraIn a novel effort to increase surveillance in a crime-plagued area, Oakland city leaders have purchased a batch of cameras for merchants in the Fruitvale district who were unable to afford them. The deal with the merchants, who must allow police to view the footage, comes three months after the slaying of a community leader in Fruitvale, and as the city attorney's office seeks a civil injunction against alleged gang members in the neighborhood. The roughly 30 cameras were paid for with $35,000 in redevelopment money. They will be installed inside and outside of local businesses, including Otaez Restaurant, where robbers shot owner Jesus "Chuy" Campos to death on April 8. "Everyone was well aware of the level of crime," said Jose Dorado, 63, who owns a bookkeeping business and was raised in the neighborhood. But the Campos killing "brought issues to a head. That pretty much woke everybody up.



Within hours of the April 8 slaying, merchants had a meeting with Mayor Jean Quan and Police Chief Anthony Batts to ask for help in reducing crime. They also petitioned the City Council for more motorcycle cops and increased patrols. Officers on all-terrain motorcycles have been trained in recent months and are expected soon. "It's a sad commentary that these improvements in security come about because somebody was killed," said Dorado, who had known Campos for more than 25 years. "Somebody gets run over, and they put up a stop light." Fruitvale merchants, Oakland police officials, Quan and Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente, who represents the district, will formally announce the installation of the cameras this afternoon at Otaez.


The cameras will be put in businesses in a 2-square-mile area on International Boulevard, Fruitvale Avenue and Foothill Boulevard. Police officers identified critical intersections for coverage, while city staff surveyed the area to see who had existing cameras covering streets. For example, International Boulevard between 34th and 40th will now be largely covered. The program is similar to one being used in Oakland's Chinatown. Oakland police will have access to the data, which will be kept at each business and will contain roughly 30 days' worth of footage, according to De La Fuente's office. Business owners will maintain the cameras and will be able to access the video online while away

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