DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan addressed several important issues during his State of the City speech on Tuesday night, but safety was one of the main priorities.
During his speech, Duggan, said that his administration is recommending a $10 million budget increase in an effort to bring 70 new police officers to the city this year.
On top of that, he touched on Project Green Light, which was launched more than three years ago to have real-time camera connections between businesses in the city and the Detroit Police Department. It started with just eight gas stations, but has grown to 500 businesses across the city installing Project Green light cameras.
According to the mayor, they're looking to have a 1,000-camera network by the end of 2020 that can "track any shooter or carjacker across the city of Detroit with high-definition day or night cameras."
On top of that, the mayor said they'll start coordinating with the Detroit Department of Public Works traffic cameras at intersections. This year, the mayor said they'll start coordinating the cameras with Warren, Greenfield and E. 7 Mile Rd.
By the fall, Duggan said that they will also have real-time crime centers in both the eighth and ninth precincts to watch the neighborhoods.
7 Action News spoke with Shawnte Harris, who works at the BP gas station on East Outer Drive. She said Project Green Light was one of the reasons she took the job.
"I would rather go to somewhere that has Green Light that doesn’t. Because I feel like even if something were to happen to me at least it would be taken care of and the person would be caught," she said.
The BP and conjoined Subway on East Outer Drive just off 94 has been a Project Green Light partner for a few years.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig pointed to several recent cases including an attempted abduction n on the city's southwest side, where Project Green Light has played a positive role.
"It’s making a difference in the City of Detroit," he told 7 Action News.
Businesses do have to pay to get involved in Project Green Light, with a monthly leasing price and an installation price if they choose to lease, or a purchase option. You can learn more about the pricing here.
Chief Craig said when the project first took off in early 2016, the out-of-pocket cost for businesses was between $6,000 and $7,000, but he said that's gone down since the project has grown.
To see a map of all Green Light locations, click here. Learn more about the program here.
