STATESBORO — Surveillance cameras have been installed on Chandler Road and Lanier Drive to aid police officers in investigations.

A total of 18 cameras watch the two roads. These streets were strategically chosen since they run through the heart of Georgia Southern’s campus and apartments where students reside, according to Chief Mike Broadhead of the Statesboro Police Department. Each camera costs the county $100 per month.

“As we decide on the viability of the program we can add or remove cameras or relocate cameras as needed,” Broadhead wrote in an email. “That’s not a quick or easy change (we can’t just arbitrarily decide we want a camera moved), but it is possible to have cameras relocated. I see this as an expansion of the GSU camera system, even though it is separate and not controlled by the University. ”

The cameras are not meant to be monitored in real-time, rather they will be used to rewind the footage when an incident occurs to assist in any investigation. The cameras went active on Oct. 15, although this has been in the works since Jan. 1.

Councilman Derek Duke, who currently represents District 5, said the camera system is unbelievably good at catching criminals.

“So if they come here to do bad, we’re going to catch him, and we’re going to prosecute,” Duke said. “If you’re good, it’s not about little amount of traffic violations. It’s not about a candy wrapper blows out of your car, or whatever else. It’s about bad things that happen.” 

Georgia Power has partnered with Bulloch County to supply the infrastructure and the server that stores the video. CentralSquare, a subcontractor on the project, provided the software for the cameras.

Sarah Smith, The George-Anne News Editor, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu