|
Videos
May 5, 2011 By News Staff
Did North Miami, Fla., Mayor Andre Pierre do anything wrong by having surveillance cameras installed in his office?
Pierre says no. He thought someone was stealing items in his office, so he had “one security camera” installed in plain view, he told Miami’s NBC affiliate.
But the TV station is reporting that invoices show the mayor had two hidden cameras concealed in smoke detectors installed last July, at a cost of more than $8,000. Carol Keys, who is running against Pierre in the city’s mayoral election next week, said she believes the purchasing of the cameras lacked transparency.
The Miami Herald reported this week that the purchases of the cameras appear to circumvent the city’s purchasing rules, which call for a bid process for expenditures of more than $5,000. The newspaper also reported that a company owned by a North Miami police officer was initially contracted to install the cameras.
E-mails among city officials expressed concern that the cameras purchases lacked proper documentation and didn’t go through the proper channels.
Pierre has denied any wrongdoing.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reportedly is investigating, although Pierre told Miami’s NBC affiliate he hasn’t been contacted by law enforcement.
You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.govtech.com/budget-finance/North-Miami-Mayor-Secret-Cameras.html
Collaborative Justice: Transforming Criminal Justice Services Through Unified Collaboration
Cloud-Based Services Accelerate Public Sector Adoption of Video Collaboration
Except for the fact that you can get these cameras for under $100, I don't see a problem with this. Why the $8k? Install fees? Ha! Payoff, more likely...
I believe Pierre had every right to have a hidden camera installed in his office, especially if there were any questions of foul play. However, when it comes to following the rules for the office expenditures, that’s a different story. There are rules and guidelines for everything that one must abide by or there will be consequences. Smoke Detector Hidden Camera
We have had occasion to surreptitiously install surveillance cameras in our government facilities to catch employees who were engaging in criminal acts at work. Does anybody honestly think that it’s a realistic expectation to ask your purchasing department to put out a public bid to install secret cameras in a government office without it instantly traveling though the employee grapevine?