'Often Unreliable': Clarendon Hills Wants New Downtown Cameras

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills wants to replace its downtown camera surveillance system, saying it's outdated and "often unreliable."

"Unfortunately, there have been multiple instances where the current cameras were not functional when needed the most," Police Chief Ed Leinweber said in a memo this week.

On Monday, the Village Board plans to vote on waiving the bidding process and choosing Aurora-based Orbis Solutions for a $96,500 camera contract.

The new system, Leinweber said, would increase the monitoring of existing camera locations as well as other areas of downtown thoroughfares.

As it is, the police department has had to rely on subpar technology, such as freestanding trail cams or GoPros, to capture areas during surveillance or police projects.

"These options, while helpful in a pinch, are lacking in quality, reliability, and are labor-intensive," the chief said.

He also said officers are equipped with body cameras.

"(H)owever, these only provide a limited perspective and do not allow for continuous monitoring of high-traffic public spaces," he said.

Some oppose the expansion of police surveillance cameras, saying they pose a threat to Americans' privacy.

In Darien, a resident has launched a campaign against police cameras.