US City Sued For Hiding Surveillance Camera Map

Author: Dan Gelinas, Published on Mar 08, 2019

Should maps of public surveillance camera locations be kept a secret? That is what one US city is trying to do.

Though the city admits the cameras in question are publicly visible, New Orleans officials have denied a public defender's public records request for access to a map showing the locations of the cameras. The dispute has escalated into a lawsuit that the plaintiff, being represented in part by ACLU Louisiana attorneys. However, the city has said existing statutory language exempts them from complying with the request.

In this note, based on IPVM's interviews with the ACLU, an attorney for the plaintiff, and a former municipal/police Surveillance Manager, we examine:

  • Background
  • Request / denial details
  • Details of complaint
  • ACLU involvement
  • No response from the defendant
  • Comment from former municipal/police surveillance manager
  • Next step

****** **** ** ****** ************ ****** ********* ** **** * secret? **** ** **** *** ** **** ** ****** ** do.

****** *** **** ****** *** ******* ** ******** *** ******** visible, *** ******* ********* **** ****** * ****** ********'* ****** records ******* *** ****** ** * *** ******* *** ********* of *** *******. *** ******* *** ********* **** * ******* that *** *********, ***** *********** ** **** ** **** ********* attorneys. *******, *** **** *** **** ******** ********* ******** ******* them **** ********* **** *** *******.

** **** ****, ***** ** ****'* ********** **** *** ****, an ******** *** *** *********, *** * ****** *********/****** ************ Manager, ** *******:

  • **********
  • ******* / ****** *******
  • ******* ** *********
  • **** ***********
  • ** ******** **** *** *********
  • ******* **** ****** *********/****** ************ *******
  • **** ****

[***************]

**********

***** ********* ******* ** *** ****** **** ****** ******* ********** * *** ** *** ******** ******* ******* ** *** city ** *** *******, ****** ************* ********** * ******** *** ***** ** *************** *** ****'* ******** ********** ******** *** ********* ************,****** ******,********* ********* **** *** **** ** ************ *********** ******* *** ******.

*** *************** **** *** **** ***** ******** *** *** ****** ******* in **** ** **** ** * $** ******* ****** ****** Improvement ****, ** **** ** *** ********** *****:

********* *** ******, **** ******** ** *** ******* ** *** ******* **** & ***-***** ******* *******, ****** **** **** "*************" and ** ****** ***** ** "** *******," ** **** ** the ********** **** *** ***** *****:

******, *** ****** ******** ***** *** ******** ** *** ********* the ****'* ****** ******** ** *** *******-**** ***** ****** (****)*** *** ******* **** ******* ****** ** **** *** ******* as ***** ** **** *** ***** **** *** ***********, ** seen ** *** ********** *****:

Request / ****** *******

*****'* ****** ******* ******* *** ***** ****, ********* *** *** of ****** *********, ******** ** *** ******* ** ****** ******** records, *** ******* ** **** *****, ** **** ** *** screenshot *****:

*** **** ******* *****'* *** *** ********, ****** **** *** could **** **** *** **** ********'* ****** ** ****** *** records, ** **** *****:

***** ******** **** **** ** ** **** *** *** *******, claiming *** ****** ******* ** "********* *********... ******* ** *** prevention ** *********-******* ********", ** **** ** *** ********** *****:

Details ** *********

*** ********* ********* **** ** ***** *** ****** ********* ** more **** *** ********-*******, ********-****** *******, ** **** ** *** screenshot *****:

***********, *** ********* ********** **** *** ******* ** ******** *** owned ** *** ****** ** *** ****** *** *** ****** visible ** ****** *****. ** **** ****** **** *** ******* camera ********* **** *** **** **** ******** *** *** ***** requested, ** **** *****:

*** ********* **** **** ** ** ****** *** ****'* ********* that *** ******* ********* **** *** ****-********* ********** *** **** providing *** *** ***** **** * ****** ** ****** ******, as **** ** *** ********** *****:

ACLU ***********

*** **** ********* ** **** **** **** **** *** **** interested ** ******* ***** ********* ******** ******** ***** ****** ******* from *** ****'* *******, *** **** **** ********** ** ******** to *** ****** *** "****" **** "*********" *** ****'* ****** system **:

** ******* ***** **** ***** ******* ** **** ******* ** typically **** ** ***********, *** **’* *** ***** **** *** footage ** ******* ***** ** ****** *********. ****, **’** **** trying ** ****** *** ******* **** ********* **** ****** ******. If *** **** *** ****** **** **** ***** ** ****** cameras *** *** ** ** ********* *** ******, *** ****** has * ***** ** **** ***** ***** ******* ***.

********, *** **** **** *** **** **** *** ******* **** bought **** ****** ***** *** *** ****** ******* ****** *** city ***** **** *** *********** ******** *********** **, ** *** nature, ****** *********** *** **** ***** *** ****** ** ********* *** **** ********** ** *********** *** ***********. *******, **** ****** **** *** ******** ****** *** **** to ** **** *** **** *** ********* ***** ** ** compelled ** ** *** ****, ***** **** **** ** ********* the ********* ***********.

No ******** **** *** *********

**** ******* *** ** *** *********, ******, *** *** *** receive * ******** ****.

Comment **** ****** *********/****** ************ *******

****** ******* ****** ************ *******,*** ********* **** **** ******* *** ***** ********* ** ******** ******* cameras ** *** **** **** *** ******.

************, *****'* ******** ******* *** **** ***** ** ***** *** the **** ** *** *******' **** ** *** ******* ** let ********** **** ****** ** * *****-**** ******** ******* **** areas ** ***** ** **** ****** ** ************ ***** *** an ******, ** **** *** ********** ** * ******** ********* map ****** ** * ********* ****** *** ***:

** ** *******, *** *** ****** ***** *** ****** ***** either ** **********, ******** ** *********, * ***** *** *********** of **** *********** ***** ****** ***** ** **** ***. * would ***** **** ** * ********* *** ******** ** *****, he ** *** ***** ****** *** **** ***** *** **** accordingly.

***** **** **** **** *** *** **** ******, ********* ******* that **** **** ****** ************** *** ***** ****** ********* ********* were ***** ****** **** *** ******. ** **** ***** **** Memphis *** *** ********* ******** * ***** ***, *** *** have ******* ******* ** ****** *********. ** **** **** **** produced * ***** *** **** ** ******** ** * ******* of *********** (****) ******* **** *** *****.

Next ****

*** **** ******** *** *** ********* **** **** **** *** parties *** ********* *** * ******* ** ***** **, ****, a ***** **** ****** ***** ** ******* *** **** **** of *********:

*** **’** ********* *** * ******* ** *** **** ** March. ***** ****** **** ****** ******* ******* **** ** * writ ** ******** ***** **** ** ***** * ****** ******** to ** *** ** *** ****.

Poll / ****

Comments (22)

Undisclosed #1

03/08/19 07:16pm

****! ****** ** ** **% **** ****. **********? :)

* ***** **. *****'* **** ********** ******** ** *** ** fairness:

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/19 03:22am

*** ******** ******** **** *** **** ***** *** ****** ** dismissed ********.

**** *** ********* ** ****** *** **** ** * *** of *** ******* ** *** ******. *** **** ****** ****, and *** **** ******. **** *** **** *** *** **** was *** ******* ** ******* ******* **** ******** ******* ** specific ***** ******** ** ******** *********, ***** * ***** ***** would ****** ********* ** ******** ******* *****.

**** *** *** ******** ****** ** *** *******, ** *** complaint ********, **** *** ******** *** ********* ** * *** showing *** ***** ********* ** *** *******, ***** ** *** a ********* *********** *** *** ******* ** *** *** *********** they ****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/09/19 04:39am

"*** ******** ******** **** *** **** ***** *** ****** ** dismissed ********."

********* ******* *********, *********.

*******, **** ********** ********** - ***** **** ** *** ****** snow - ******* *** **** **** ** **** **** - the**** ** ***************** ** *** *********.

****** ******** *** *** ****** **** **** **** ** ***'* want ** ******* **** ** ***** ** ****** ******* - and ******* *** ********* ** ******* ******.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/19 05:08am

*** ******* ** *********** *** (****) ******** ******** ********** **** do *** ******* *** ******* ** *********** **** ** ****** to ** ** ******* ** * ******* ** ********* ******, including *******, ******** ********, *** *** ***********. *** ******** ** the **** **** ** ** *** "********* **********" ** ** doubt * **** ** *** ****** ** ***** *** *****, which ** ******* **** **** ** ********* ****** ******** ** the ******** ** *** *****.

** *****, **** ******* *** ********* ***** *** * **** of ******** **** *** **** **** ** **** ** *******. They *** ***, *** **** *** ****** ** (*** ******) lose **** ****. ***** *** ***** ******* **** *** *********** would *** **** *** ********* ** *** ** ***** ******* to ** ********** *** ****** ********.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/09/19 05:15am

"***** *** ***** ******* **** *** *********** ***** *** **** the ********* ** *** ** ***** ******* ** ** ********** and ****** ********."

**** ** * ***** ****. *** ***** ** ******** ********* *** ********* ** ******* *** *** ** ***** - it ** ** ***** ** ****** ******** ********* ******** ** their *** ********* ********* ********* ** ***** *** *********** ******.

*** ********* ** ***** ******* *** (*** **** ******* ****) documented ** *****-******* ******* ***** ** ****** ******* ****** *** finding *** ******* ** ********. *** ******* *** ** ****** view.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/09/19 04:58am

"**** *** **** *** *** **** *** *** ******* ** request ******* **** ******** ******* ** ******** ***** ******** ** specific *********, ***** * ***** ***** ***** ****** ********* ** provided ******* *****."

**** ** * ******** ********** ******* ** *** ********* ****** records **** ********* ** ** ** ** *******.

*** ** * ******* ******** ** **** **** ******* ** 'request ******* ****' ** *** **** ****** ****** ** * map ** *** ******* **** ** *** **** **** **** are ***** ** ****** ******** *** ********* ***********?

* ** *** *** *********** *** * ********** **** **** have *** ** *** ******** **** ** *** ******. *** the ****** ******** ** *** *********** ******* ** ********** '********' doctrine **** ** ****** ** ** ****** **, ** *** enforcement ** ******** ********.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/19 05:12am

**** *****, *** **** * *********** ******* ** ********** *** FOIA ******** ******** ****.

*** ******* ** *** ******** ** **** *** ***** ******* to ******* ******* **** -- **** **** **** ** ****** the ********* *** *** ********** ***** **** *** ********** ******* from, ** ** ******. ** *** ***** **** ***** ****** entity **** ******** **** ******* ******** ******** * *** ** all ******* **** **** **** *********? ********** ***. **** ***, but *** ******** ** ***.

***** *** * *** ** ****** ** ********* *** *********** for, *** ** **** ****, "********" ** *** *** ** them. ******** *****'* **** ***** **** *** **********. *** **** relating ** *** ******* ** * *** ** *** ******* will ****** ********* ** ******* *** ** *****, ********** ** the **** *** ****'* ***********.

Undisclosed #7

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/11/19 07:28pm

** * ******* ******** ** ******** ** ***** **** * request **** ** ** ****** **** ********* ********* ****** ** be ** "*** **** ****" ** *** *********** ** ***** to ** ********** ************ *** ** **** *** ***** ** no *******, *** ******* ** **** ******** ** ******* ****?

** ******** ** *** *****, *** ******* *** ****** **** it's *** ************(*) **** **** ****** ** ***** ****** *******/********** for ***** *** ******. *'* *** ********** *** ****** ** the ****** *** **** ** *** *** ****** *** ****** video, *** ***** ****** ** * ****** ********* **** ** not ********** ** *** *********** ** ****** ********. ** **** an *** ******** ** **'* ****: ** *** ****** ****'* doing ******** ***** *** **** ******* ** ****, **** *******'* object.

***** ****** **** ** ******* *** ******** *********** ****** ** ALL ****** ******** *** ***** **** *** ****** ** ****** no *** ** ********* ***** *** ******* *** ******** ******* to ** ************* ** ***********. (****** ** ********). *********** ******** is *** **** *** ** *******/****** ******.

Avatar

Matthew Del Salto

BLACKBOX USA | 03/08/19 09:08pm

** *** **** ***'* **** ********** ********* ** **** ****** a ******* ********* *** ********/****** ********. ******'* ** *** *** fetched ** ****** ** ******* ** ************* *** **** ***** sourced **** ****** **. **** ** **** *** **** ** other **** **** ********** ***** ** ***** ********* *** ****.

************* 😄

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Matthew Del Salto | 03/08/19 10:00pm

* ***** **** ***** *** **** ** ***** ****** * map ** ******* - **** ** *** ** ********.

**. *****'* ******* ** *** ***** '*** * ****** *** can ** *******' - *** ******* ** *** *********** ******** ********** ***** ****** ** * ****** ******** ** statute(******* ** ***************** ***** ** *** **).

*** ******** ** *** **** **** *** ******* ** * map ** ********-******* ******* ***** ********** ***** '********* **********' ******* is ****** ****, ***.

Avatar

Brandon Knutson

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/19 12:09am

*** ******** ** *** **** **** *** ******* ** * map ** ********-******* ******* ***** ********** ***** '********* **********' ******* is ****** ****, ***.

* *****, ***** ****-********* ********* ** ****-****.

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Brandon Knutson | 03/09/19 04:54am

**** *** *** **** *** "** ***'* **** ** **** the ********* ***** ****** *** ******* ************" ****'* ****** *****...**** law **** ** **********

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/19 05:15am

*** **** ******* ** * ********* ******* ********** ********, *** I ***'* ***** *** ********** **** ** ******** **.

*** **** ** ******** ******* ****** ******* **** ******** * ****** ****** ** ******* specific *********** -- * **** ** ******** ** * ***** order **** ****** * ****** ** ****** ** ** ********* that **** *** **** ********** ******** ** **. **** ******* a ******* *** **** ***** *** * **** ** ******** DOES *** **** **** *** ******* *** *** ***** ********** -- **'* ******* **** **** * ******* ***** ** * court **** **** ********* ** ****** *** **** ***** ***.

** ****** **********, *** **** **** ****** ********* *** ** forced ** ***** **** *********** ******* ***** *** ******** ********** within **** ************ **** ******* **** **** ***** ****** ** do **.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/09/19 05:31am

"** ****** **********, *** **** **** ****** ********* *** ** forced ** ***** **** *********** ******* ***** *** ******** ********** within **** ************ **** ******* **** **** ***** ****** ** do **."

**'* *** *** **** ** ***'* **** *** ******* **** other ************ *** ******** ***** ** **** ***** ** ** actual ***** ** ***. **** ***** ** ** *********** ********* for ****. ; )

** **** ***** ***** *** **** *** ***** ******** ** provide ****** ******** *********** ***** ** **** ***-******* ****** **** they *** ****** **** ********** *** ** ********* **** *** yet ** ** ***********: * ****** **** **********.

***'* ** *****.... *** ******** ** *** *** ******* ** ALREADY *****. **** **** ** ***** **** **** *** ****** of *** ******* **** ******* - *** **** ** *** the ** **** *** *** **** *** ********.

* ***'* ***** *** ********** *** ********** *** *** ******* on ** * ***** ** **** ** *****'* ******** ** this **** - ****** * ********** **** *** ***** *** do.

***'* **** **** ** *** ******* *** ** ** *** same *** ****** *** **** **** ** *** **** ***** town *** ****** ** *** **** ******* ****** *** *** rest ** ********.

* ***** ***** *** ************ ***********. :)

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/19 05:46am

***** ***'** ** **** ** *****,****'* *** *** ***.

*'** **** ** *** **** ******* *** * **** **** the ******** ********** **** *'* ********* **, ***** *** ***** primarily ***** ********* ****** *:

Exemption *: Information compiled for law enforcement purposes that:

  • *(*). ***** ********** ** ******** ** ********* **** *********** ***********
  • *(*). ***** ******* * ****** ** * ***** ** * fair ***** ** ** ********* ************
  • *(*). ***** ********** ** ******** ** ********** ** *********** ******** of ******** *******
  • *(*). ***** ********** ** ******** ** ******** *** ******** ** a ************ ******
  • *(*). ***** ******** ********** *** ********** *** *** *********** ************** or ************, ** ***** ******** ********** *** *** *********** ************** or ************ ** **** ********** ***** ********** ** ******** ** risk ************* ** *** ***
  • *(*). ***** ********** ** ******** ** ******** *** **** ** physical ****** ** *** **********

** *** ***'* ******* **** *** *********** ** * *** showing ****** ********* ****** * **** ***** *** ****** *** of ***** *** ***********-******** ********** ** ******* ** *** ******* government ******, ****...****, **** ****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 03/09/19 06:08am

"** *** ***'* ******* **** *** *********** ** * *** showing ****** ********* ****** * **** ***** *** ****** *** of ***** *** ***********-******** ********** ** ******* ** *** ******* government ******, ****...****, **** ****."

*** ******* ** ******** ***publicly *******.

***, **** ********* * ******** ** *** **** ** *** level ** ********* *********** - ***** ***obviously ******* ****** ************* *** ** ********** ** ****** ***** ******** ** ********** ******* - rendering your 'protected status' argument moot.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

03/09/19 01:09am

****** ************ ** *.*. ******** ** **** ** *** ****** slope ** *******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 03/10/19 03:29am

* ***** **** ** ******** *** * ****** ********** **** requires ******** ** *** ***** ** ******* *** **** ******** with *** **** ****** **** ********* ** *** ********* ** some ***** ******* ** **** ***** ***** **** ****'* *** desired ***** ******* **** *** ******** ***** *** ******** ** accomplish.

****** ***** ****** *** ******* **** ******** *****.

Undisclosed #4

03/09/19 07:52am

**** ** ** **** ***** *** ******* *** **** ** for ******** ** ***.

*** *** ** ** ***** *** *** *** *** **** surveillance ******* ** ***** * *** **** ******* *****?

Undisclosed End User #5

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 03/09/19 08:03pm

*******, ***

Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | 03/09/19 05:06pm

**** ** ** **** **** ** *** ****-*************** **** ******* ****** ** ****** *** *** ********** ******* from ****. **** ** ******** ********* *****, **** **** * read, **** *** ******** ** ******** **** ***** *********** *** located *******. ** ** ****** **** **** **** ** **** it ****** *** ***'* **** ** ** ** *** ******. If **** **** ** ******* ***** *** *********** *** ******** to **, *** ** ** **** * *** **** ** make ********* * *** ** ********* ** ****** *******?

*'* ***** *** ****** ** **** ****** ** ***** ** cameras **** **** **** **** ***** **** ***. ***** ** still *********. ** *** **** * **** *** ******, ** can ***** **** ******* ******** ******* ***** **** *********** **** happened.

*'* **** **** ** *** **** ** ******* *** ******** of *******. ** ** ****, * **** ***** **** ** the ******* *** *** **** *****, **** ***** ******, *** PTZ ******* *** ******* ** *** ******** ********* *** *********** must **** ** ******* ******* ** **** ******* ** ** what ********.

*** ****** *** *** ****** ******** *** ** ***** *** ones ****** *** ** **** ** **** * *** ******* option **** *** **** *** **** *** ** ******* ****** locations.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

In reply to Kyle Folger | 03/11/19 02:31pm

********* *** ******, **** ******** ** *** ******* ** *** ******* **** & ***-***** ******* *******, ****** **** **** "*************" and ** ****** ***** ** "** *******,"

...***...

*** ****** *** *** ****** ******** *** ** ***** *** ones ****** *** ** **** ** **** * *** ******* option **** *** **** *** **** *** ** ******* ****** locations.

***'** **** ** ******* ** ********* ****, * **** ** a ***** ************** ********* *** ***** **** *** ******* **********. Are ***** ****** ** *** *** ****? ** ** **** come ** **** ****** ** ******** ** **** ***** *******?

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