Jul. 20, 2023 By Carlotta Mohamed
Councilwoman Sandra Ung presented a check for $312,000 to 109th Precinct Deputy Inspector Louron Hall in downtown Flushing on Tuesday, July 18. The money will be used to purchase new Argus surveillance cameras for the precinct that will be deployed in high-crime areas around the district.
“When I took office last year, the 109th Precinct was experiencing an alarming uptick in crime,” Ung said. “Working closely with Deputy Inspector Hall, I have made improving public safety a top priority, but there is still more we can do. Our officers can’t be everywhere at once, so these cameras will help serve as their eyes and ears. They will not only be a valuable tool to help solve crimes but hopefully act as a deterrent for would-be criminals who know they are being watched.”
Ung secured the funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget that will be used to purchase approximately seven to 10 NYPD Argus cameras.
The NYPD will determine the exact locations, but Hall has already submitted several locations for consideration to One Police Plaza, including spots in Murray Hall and around Flushing.
There are currently 32 Argus cameras spread across the 109th Precinct, with a significant concentration in downtown Flushing. The Argus cameras are generally positioned about 20 feet off the ground and attached to a white box clearly marked with the NYPD insignia. Each camera has two views, allowing for 64 unique views of the precinct.
“This money is going to allow us to improve and increase the amount of Argus cameras,” Hall said. “As the Councilmember noted, this is not only going to help us deter crime but when crime happens will give our investigators the best opportunity to catch the individuals who commit them.”
In December, Ung sent a letter to Mayor Eric Adams calling on his administration to direct the New York Police Department to assign more police officers to the 109th Precinct. Since then, the precinct has received officers from several graduating classes of the Police Academy, many of whom were assigned to foot patrols in downtown Flushing.