A partnership has resulted in security cameras being installed to add security for businesses on Church Street in Ottumwa.
Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress, working in collaboration with the City of Ottumwa announced the completion of the Church Street Municipal Parking Security Camera Installation. The project has been in process since early 2023, and the cameras are now live and transmitting video to the Ottumwa Police Department. The new addition will add complete visibility to all activity behind the Church Street businesses.
This project was originally requested by the property owners and businesses located within the Church Street Business District. In conversations with the Ottumwa Police Department, this was identified as an area of concern, primarily because there were line-of-sight challenges with the existing poles located in the parking lot. Beginning last November, the City/GOPIP partnership filed the necessary documentation to begin the process, and the new pole was placed in January 2024.
“We are happy to have these cameras as part of our milestone camera program here in Ottumwa,” said Chad Farrington, Ottumwa Chief of Police, “and they will be an asset in the detection and investigation of criminal activity in the area.”
According to Marc Roe, Executive Director of Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress, “We are excited to draw this project to a close. The safety of our community is paramount, and these cameras ensure that not only those businesses attached to the parking lot, as well as our citizens utilizing the area are safe, but also allow our Police Department to rapidly mitigate crime. Working together with the City of Ottumwa, we are happy to assist the community in closing a gap in the already robust camera program.”
