Cities like Foley, Alabama, are actively installing more surveillance cameras for public safety, joining a growing trend across the U.S. where municipalities are expanding camera networks for crime prevention and traffic management. Foley is expanding the municipal camera system at intersections and other locations to improve public safety in the city.

The City Council voted recently to buy and install nine additional cameras for the public safety system. The locations of the cameras were not released.

Police Chief Kevin Carnley said the cameras will allow the city to expand the system and improve public safety.

“This is part of our plan to add more cameras throughout the city for security purposes,” Carnley said. “They play an integral role in everything we're doing now.”

He said city and private cameras helped resolve a recent incident in north Foley.

“That cooperation between some of our systems and the systems that people have on their residences helped us solve that,” Carnley told council members. “So we're asking to put in more cameras.”

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said camera systems are a valuable asset for city public safety.

“I'm a big believer in cameras,” Hellmich said. “I think they’re a force multiplier, and they have been invaluable over the past few years.”

The mayor said city officials will have to determine which types of cameras are best suited for the city’s current needs.

“I've found that all cameras are not created equal,” Hellmich said. “It depends on the location. Some are more expensive than others. Some are more complicated. They try to find the best fit for that situation and not cost exorbitant money.”

Hellmich said the city is also working with local utility providers to cut costs on installing the systems around Foley.

Carnley said using different types of camera systems around the city also provides protection if one set has to be taken off line.

“We work with multiple vendors so that the systems are not all the same,” Carnley said. “If one goes down for maintenance, we don't want the whole city to be out at one time. So we do have multiple systems that we use.”

The camera purchase is part of the second phase of the city’s Public Safety Systems Improvement Capital Project.