Amount Requested: $293,000
This project will involve enhancing the CCTV camera system and backup 911 center currently housed by the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department.  Camera systems and computer systems. The City of Poughkeepsie installed five cameras in the Main Street Corridor in 1996.  Since the inception of the project, shootings and homicide rates have dropped drastically.  Throughout the years the system was updated from black and white to color and to digital pictures.  Recently, the city has experienced a severe spike in violent crime.  The city experienced more shootings in 2008 than several other same sized cities combined. The robberies being committed are being done so with a handgun or threat of use of a handgun.  Even though various enhancements were made, there are further upgrades which need to be made so that the system is brought up to date.