Westminster College is considering a safety precaution that could benefit Fulton as well.
College President Donald Lofe shared with the Fulton City Council on Tuesday about a plan the college is working on for 10 upgraded security cameras along Westminster Avenue, as well as West Seventh and West Fourth streets.
The cameras would be part of a flock system focused on identifying license plates with the information going to the Fulton Police Department. It would be available for other area agencies as well, such as the Callaway County Sheriff's Office and Jefferson City Police Department.
"The college has been working on looking at our overall security across the campus for probably the last seven to eight months," Lofe said. "Part of that, we were looking at the camera system we have across the campus."
College officials met with city officials to discuss the project and see where the cameras would be able to benefit the community as well as the college.
Lofe said the program would cost the college around $55,000-$60,000 annually with a five-year contract.
He said there would be 10 cameras, with the majority along Westminster Avenue and the parameter of the college. The cameras are very sensitive, but specifically focus on a vehicle's license plate.
"I asked the question 'Is 10 cameras enough?'" Lofe said. "We're very comfortable it is enough. When you start overloading us, it doesn't do anything."
The cameras are run by individual solar panels attached to the pole the camera is on, which means they don't need to link up to city electric.
Fulton Police Chief Bill Ladwig said there isn't an expectation of privacy for a person's license plate while they're driving along a public road.
He said the system will be helpful for investigations. For instance, last fall there was a homicide at Stinson Creek, essentially on the college campus.
"This could have been a game changer in our investigation to help us get a whole lot farther a whole lot quicker if this had been in place at that time," Ladwig said.
While it would be helpful when investigators have a license plate, Ladwig said, it could be helpful even without a full plate number.
"This system actually learns cars by the shape of their taillights," he said. "If they just knew it was a Buick LeSabre, (it will) show us how many Buick LeSabres have come through. That's how sophisticated this system really is. It could be a tremendous asset to public safety."
Ladwig said the proposed locations for the cameras will cover the major entrances to the college well, and the plan is overall well thought out.
Lofe said the college is looking into cameras that utilize facial recognition as well and that could be part of phase two for security upgrades.
"Candidly, there's a lot involved in that," he said. "The technology is developing monthly. We're trying to be sensitive to what makes the most sense from a prevention point of view but also respect to privacy."
If the city wanted to place more of the flock cameras in other parts of town, it would work the same way even though it wouldn't be part of the same system.
Mayor Lowe Cannell said the City Council may want to look into an ordinance pertaining to advanced technology security cameras. Council members were overall in support of the project. The city is not contributing any funds to the project.