Anti-Crime Street Cameras Coming to Pottstown

Photos by Evan Brandt

Police Chief Rick Drumheller talks about the benefits of the street camera program being proposed for Pottstown during Wednesday night's borough council meeting.

The arrival last month of a Community Prosecution Unit of the Montgomery County District Attorney's office came with pledges of helping to make Pottstown a safer place.

Last night, they delivered in a major way, announced a plan to establish crime-fighting street cameras in town. The DA's office will use money confiscated from criminals to pay for the installation of a system that can accommodate as many as 36 street cameras.

Montgomery County ADA Brianna Ringwood explains the
camera proposal to borough council Wednesday night.

Additionally, the county office will pay for the first ten cameras and at least the $5,000 cost of the first year of maintenance.

"This is another example of our commitment to this community," said ADA Brianna Ringwood, one of three ADAs assigned to Pottstown.

Hard to argue with that.

Working with the police department, the cameras will be established in high crime areas and monitored 24/7 by the police department.

Also in the news from last night was the announcement that Justin Keller, the area's regional recreation coordinator,has been hired as Pottstown's new assistant borough manager, replacing Erica Batdorf who left last month.

“His demonstrated ability to foster regional cooperation in his current role as Regional Recreational Coordinator and his success in grant acquisitions for our region made Justin the frontrunner in our search to fill the position," Mark Flanders said in a statement sent to The Mercury late Wednesday night.

As the new assistant borough manager, Justin Keller, center, sat
with his new co-workers Keith Place, left, and Janice Lee last night. 

"It has truly been an honor serving the six participating municipalities as the region;s first recreation coordinator,” Keller said in his statement. “I am proud to be part of an unprecedented level of regional cooperation and coordination which has attracted well over a half million dollars of grant investments for area parks and trails.”

Council also had some dis-jointed discussion about the language for the proposed changes to the ordinance which governs  the Pottstown Human Relations Commission.

Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. had asked for some guidance. Not so sure if he got what he was looking for.


You can read all about it in the Tweets below.