US City Sued For Hiding Surveillance Camera Map

By: Dan Gelinas, Published on Mar 08, 2019

UPDATE: The judgment is now in and updated information is at the bottom of the post.

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
UPDATE on judgment

******:*** ******** ** *** in *** ******* *********** is ** *** ****** of *** ****.

****** **** ** ****** surveillance ****** ********* ** kept * ******? **** is **** *** ** city ** ****** ** do.

****** *** **** ****** the ******* ** ******** are ******** *******, *** Orleans ********* **** ****** a ****** ********'* ****** records ******* *** ****** to * *** ******* the ********* ** *** cameras. *** ******* *** escalated **** * ******* **** the *********, ***** *********** in **** ** **** Louisiana *********. *******, *** city *** **** ******** statutory ******** ******* **** from ********* **** *** request.

** **** ****, ***** on ****'* ********** **** the ****, ** ******** *** the *********, *** * former *********/****** ************ *******, we *******:

**********
******* / ****** *******
******* ** *********
**** ***********
** ******** **** *** defendant
******* **** ****** *********/****** surveillance *******
**** ****
****** ** ********

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

**********

***** ********* ******* ** *** ****** 2018 ****** ******* ********** * *** ** all ******** ******* ******* in *** **** ** New *******, ****** ******** Laura ***** [**** ** longer *********] ***** * ******** for ***** ** *************** *** ****'* ******** of ******** ******** *** Emergency ************ [**** ** longer *********], ****** ****** [link ** ****** *********],********* ********* **** *** ACLU ** ************ *********** ******* *** ******.

*** *************** **** *** **** began ******** *** *** camera ******* ** **** as **** ** * $40 ******* ****** ****** Improvement ****, ** **** in *** ********** *****:

********* *** ******, **** ******** of *** ******* ** not ******* **** & ***-***** adorned *******, ****** **** feel "*************" *** ** though ***** ** "** privacy," ** **** ** the ********** **** *** story *****:

******, *** ****** ******** makes *** ******** ** her ********* *** ****'* camera ******** ** *** new****-**** ***** ****** (****) *** *** ******* **** observe ****** ** **** for ******* ** ***** as **** *** ***** used *** ***********, ** seen ** *** ********** below:

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

*****'* ****** ******* ******* had ***** ****, ********* the *** ** ****** locations, ******** ** *** keeping ** ****** ******** records, *** ******* ** RTCC *****, ** **** in *** ********** *****:

*** **** ******* *****'* 2nd *** ********, ****** that *** ***** **** into *** **** ********'* Office ** ****** *** records, ** **** *****:

***** ******** **** **** on ** **** *** Map *******, ******** *** camera ******* ** "********* equipment... ******* ** *** prevention ** *********-******* ********", as **** ** *** screenshot *****:

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

*** ********* ********* **** it ***** *** ****** locations ** **** **** 400 ********-*******, ********-****** *******, as **** ** *** screenshot *****:

***********, *** ********* ********** that *** ******* ** question *** ***** ** and ****** ** *** public *** *** ****** visible ** ****** *****. It **** ****** **** 120 ******* ****** ********* that *** **** **** monitors *** *** ***** requested, ** **** *****:

*** ********* **** **** on ** ****** *** city's ********* **** *** cameras ********* **** *** anti-terrorist ********** *** **** providing *** *** ***** pose * ****** ** public ******, ** **** in *** ********** *****:

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

*** **** ********* ** IPVM **** **** **** not **** ********** ** helping ***** ********* ******** defenses ***** ****** ******* **** the ****'* *******, *** were **** ********** ** exposing ** *** ****** how "****" **** "*********" the ****'* ****** ****** is:

** ******* ***** **** these ******* ** **** footage ** ********* **** in ***********, *** **’* not ***** **** *** footage ** ******* ***** to ****** *********. ****, we’re **** ****** ** dispel *** ******* **** surrounds **** ****** ******. If *** **** *** deploy **** **** ***** of ****** ******* *** use ** ** ********* the ******, *** ****** has * ***** ** know ***** ***** ******* are.

********, *** **** **** the **** **** *** cameras **** ****** **** public ***** *** *** placed ******* ****** *** city ***** **** *** centralized ******** *********** **, by *** ******, ****** information *** **** ***** was ****** ** ********* *** were ********** ** *********** the ***********. *******, **** ****** that *** ******** ****** not **** ** ** that *** **** *** defendant ***** ** ** compelled ** ** *** duty, ***** **** **** as ********* *** ********* information.

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

**** ******* *** ** the *********, ******, *** did *** ******* * response ****.

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

****** ******* ****** ************ Manager, *** ***** [**** no ****** *********] **** **** that ******* *** ***** locations ** ******** ******* cameras ** *** **** with *** ******.

************, *****'* ******** ******* was **** ***** ** could *** *** **** of *** *******' **** of *** ******* ** let ********** **** ****** to * *****-**** ******** showing **** ***** ** avoid ** **** ****** to ************ ***** *** ** attack, ** **** *** likelihood ** * ******** available *** ****** ** a ********* ****** *** low:

** ** *******, *** way ****** ***** *** change ***** ****** ** relocating, ******** ** *********, I ***** *** *********** of **** *********** ***** useful ***** ** **** low. * ***** ***** that ** * ********* was ******** ** *****, he ** *** ***** canvas *** **** ***** and **** ***********.

***** **** **** **** MPD *** **** ******, temporary ******* **** **** used ****** ************** *** those ****** ********* ********* were ***** ****** **** the ******. ** **** noted **** ******* *** not ********* ******** * paper ***, *** *** have ******* ******* ** camera *********. ** **** they **** ******** * paper *** **** ** response ** * ******* of *********** (****) ******* from *** *****.

Next ****

*** **** ******** *** the ********* **** **** that *** ******* *** scheduled *** * ******* on ***** **, ****, a ***** **** ****** which ** ******* *** this **** ** *********:

*** **’** ********* *** a ******* ** *** 14th ** *****. ***** things **** ****** ******* because **** ** * writ ** ******** ***** aims ** ***** * public ******** ** ** his ** *** ****.

UPDATE ** ********

* *** ******* ***** District ***** ***** ** May *, ****,******* **** *** **** provide *** ********* *** of *** ******** ******* cameras, ** **** *****:

*******, *** ***** **** ***** was ** ******** ** support *** ****’* ********* in ***** ****** ******* request ****** **** *** information ********* *** ****** since ** *** ******* to *** "********** ** terrorist-related ********," ** **** below:

********, ********* *** *********'* assertion ** ***** ********* that "*** ********* ** New ******* **** * basic ***** ** **** where *** **** ******* are *******," ** **** below:

Poll / ****

Comments (24)

Undisclosed #1

03/08/19 07:16pm

****! ****** ** ** 50% **** ****. **********? :)

* ***** **. *****'* most ********** ******** ** one ** ********:

Undisclosed #3

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

*** ******** ******** **** not **** ***** *** should ** ********* ********.

**** *** ********* ** asking *** **** ** a *** ** *** cameras ** *** ******. The **** ****** ****, and *** **** ******. What *** **** *** NOT **** *** *** ability ** ******* ******* from ******** ******* ** specific ***** ******** ** specific *********, ***** * would ***** ***** ****** certainly ** ******** ******* issue.

**** *** *** ******** access ** *** *******, as *** ********* ********, they *** ******** *** provision ** * *** showing *** ***** ********* of *** *******, ***** is *** * ********* requirement *** *** ******* to *** *** *********** they ****.

Undisclosed #1

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

"*** ******** ******** **** not **** ***** *** should ** ********* ********."

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

*******, **** ********** ********** - ***** **** ** the ****** **** - ignores *** **** **** of **** **** - ******* ** ***************** ** *** *********.

****** ******** *** *** decide **** **** **** or ***'* **** ** release **** ** ***** to ****** ******* - and ******* *** ********* by ******* ******.

Undisclosed #3

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

*** ******* ** *********** Act (****) ******** ******** exemptions **** ** *** require *** ******* ** information **** ** ****** to ** ** ******* of * ******* ** different ******, ********* *******, national ********, *** *** enforcement. *** ******** ** the **** **** ** is *** "********* **********" is ** ***** * play ** *** ****** of ***** *** *****, which ** ******* **** than ** ********* ****** relative ** *** ******** of *** *****.

** *****, **** ******* the ********* ***** *** a **** ** ******** does *** **** **** it **** ** *******. They *** ***, *** they *** ****** ** (and ******) **** **** case. ***** *** ***** reasons **** *** *********** would *** **** *** locations ** *** ** their ******* ** ** documented *** ****** ********.

Undisclosed #1

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

"***** *** ***** ******* that *** *********** ***** not **** *** ********* of *** ** ***** cameras ** ** ********** and ****** ********."

**** ** * ***** flag. *** ***** ** question ********* *** ********* ** cameras *** *** ** known - ** ** an ***** ** ****** servants ********* ******** ** their *** ********* ********* generated ** ***** *** operational ******.

*** ********* ** ***** cameras *** (*** **** already ****) ********** ** crowd-sourced ******* ***** ** simply ******* ****** *** finding *** ******* ** question. *** ******* *** in ****** ****.

Undisclosed #1

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

"**** *** **** *** NOT **** *** *** ability ** ******* ******* from ******** ******* ** specific ***** ******** ** specific *********, ***** * would ***** ***** ****** certainly ** ******** ******* issue."

**** ** * ******** ridiculous ******* ** *** releasing ****** ******* **** compelled ** ** ** by *******.

*** ** * ******* attorney ** **** **** cameras ** '******* ******* from' ** *** **** denies ****** ** * map ** *** ******* used ** *** **** that **** *** ***** to ****** ******** *** potential ***********?

* ** *** *** enforcement *** * ********** that **** **** *** of *** ******** **** on *** ******. *** the ****** ******** ** law *********** ******* ** understood '********' ******** **** we ****** ** ** engage **, ** *** enforcement ** ******** ********.

Undisclosed #3

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

**** *****, *** **** a *********** ******* ** comprehend *** **** ******** actually ****.

*** ******* ** *** required ** **** *** exact ******* ** ******* footage **** -- **** only **** ** ****** the ********* *** *** TIMEFRAMES ***** **** *** requesting ******* ****, ** it ******. ** *** think **** ***** ****** entity **** ******** **** records ******** ******** * map ** *** ******* that **** **** *********? Absolutely ***. **** ***, but *** ******** ** not.

***** *** * *** of ****** ** ********* law *********** ***, *** in **** ****, "********" is *** *** ** them. ******** *****'* **** enter **** *** **********. The **** ******** ** the ******* ** * map ** *** ******* will ****** ********* ** laughed *** ** *****, regardless ** *** **** and ****'* ***********.

Undisclosed #7

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

** * ******* ******** is ******** ** ***** that * ******* **** to ** ****** **** generally ********* ****** ** be ** "*** **** team" ** *** *********** is ***** ** ** rigorously ************ *** ** they *** ***** ** no *******, *** ******* is **** ******** ** believe ****?

** ******** ** *** court, *** ******* *** should **** **'* *** investigator(s) **** **** ****** to ***** ****** *******/********** for ***** *** ******. I'm *** ********** *** member ** *** ****** can **** ** *** the ****** *** ****** video, *** ***** ****** be * ****** ********* that ** *** ********** by *** *********** ** ensure ********. ** **** an *** ******** ** it's ****: ** *** police ****'* ***** ******** wrong *** **** ******* to ****, **** *******'* object.

***** ****** **** ** regular *** ******** *********** audits ** *** ****** requests *** ***** **** the ****** ** ****** no *** ** ********* video *** ******* *** directly ******* ** ** investigation ** ***********. (****** or ********). *********** ******** is *** **** *** to *******/****** ******.

Matthew Del Salto

BLACKBOX USA
03/08/19 09:08pm

** *** **** ***'* made ********** ********* ** will ****** * ******* commodity *** ********/****** ********. Wouldn't ** *** *** fetched ** ****** ** overlay ** ************* *** have ***** ******* **** filled **. **** ** like *** **** ** other **** **** ********** based ** ***** ********* the ****.

************* 😄

Undisclosed #1

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

* ***** **** ***** are **** ** ***** source * *** ** cameras - **** ** not ** ********.

**. *****'* ******* ** not ***** '*** * camera *** *** ** created' - *** ******* is *** *********** ******** ********** ***** duties ** * ****** required ** *******(******* ** ***************** ***** ** *** OP).

*** ******** ** *** city **** *** ******* of * *** ** publicly-visible ******* ***** ********** their '********* **********' ******* is ****** ****, ***.

Brandon Knutson

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

*** ******** ** *** city **** *** ******* of * *** ** publicly-visible ******* ***** ********** their '********* **********' ******* is ****** ****, ***.

* *****, ***** ****-********* reasoning is ****-****.

Undisclosed #4

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

**** *** *** **** say "** ***'* **** to **** *** ********* which ****** *** ******* surveillance" ****'* ****** *****...**** law **** ** **********

Undisclosed #3

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

*** **** ******* ** a ********* ******* ********** mandamus, *** * ***'* think *** ********** **** it ******** **.

*** **** ** ******** is ***** ****** ******* **** requires * ****** ****** to ******* ******** *********** -- * **** ** mandamus ** * ***** order **** ****** * public ** ****** ** do ********* **** **** may **** ********** ******** to **. **** ******* a ******* *** **** filed *** * **** of ******** **** *** mean **** *** ******* has *** ***** ********** -- **'* ******* **** than * ******* ***** in * ***** **** like ********* ** ****** are **** ***** ***.

** ****** **********, *** City **** ****** ********* NOT ** ****** ** share **** *********** ******* there *** ******** ********** within **** ************ **** prevent **** **** ***** forced ** ** **.

Undisclosed #1

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

"** ****** **********, *** City **** ****** ********* NOT ** ****** ** share **** *********** ******* there *** ******** ********** within **** ************ **** prevent **** **** ***** forced ** ** **."

**'* *** *** **** we ***'* **** *** against **** ***** ************ the ******** ***** ** this ***** ** ** actual ***** ** ***. That ***** ** ** interesting ********* *** ****. ; )

** **** ***** ***** the **** *** ***** required ** ******* ****** location *********** ***** ** some ***-******* ****** **** they *** ****** **** disclosure *** ** ********* that *** *** ** be ***********: * ****** your **********.

***'* ** *****.... *** location ** *** *** cameras ** ******* *****. This **** ** ***** more **** *** ****** of *** ******* **** request - *** **** is *** *** ** ACLU *** *** **** are ********.

* ***'* ***** *** understand *** ********** *** are ******* ** ** a ***** ** **** Ms *****'* ******** ** this **** - ****** I ********** **** *** think *** **.

***'* **** **** ** our ******* *** ** to *** **** *** school *** **** **** to *** **** ***** town *** ****** ** out **** ******* ****** for *** **** ** eternity.

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

Undisclosed #3

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

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

*'** **** ** *** step ******* *** * will **** *** ******** Exemptions **** *'* ********* to, ***** *** ***** primarily ***** ********* ****** 7:

Exemption *: Information compiled for law enforcement purposes that:

*(*). ***** ********** ** expected ** ********* **** enforcement ***********
*(*). ***** ******* * person ** * ***** to * **** ***** or ** ********* ************
*(*). ***** ********** ** expected ** ********** ** unwarranted ******** ** ******** privacy
*(*). ***** ********** ** expected ** ******** *** identity ** * ************ source
*(*). ***** ******** ********** and ********** *** *** enforcement ************** ** ************, or ***** ******** ********** for *** *********** ************** or ************ ** **** disclosure ***** ********** ** expected ** **** ************* of *** ***
*(*). ***** ********** ** expected ** ******** *** life ** ******** ****** of *** **********

** *** ***'* ******* that *** *********** ** a *** ******* ****** locations ****** * **** would *** ****** *** of ***** *** ***********-******** exemptions ** ******* ** the ******* ********** ******, then...well, **** ****.

Undisclosed #1

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

"** *** ***'* ******* that *** *********** ** a *** ******* ****** locations ****** * **** would *** ****** *** of ***** *** ***********-******** exemptions ** ******* ** the ******* ********** ******, then...well, **** ****."

*** ******* ** ******** arepublicly *******.

***, **** ********* * examples ** *** **** to *** ***** ** protected *********** - ***** theobviously ******* ****** ************* *** ** ********** ** ****** ***** ******** ** ********** ******* - rendering your 'protected status' argument moot.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

03/09/19 01:09am

****** ************ ** *.*. citizens ** **** ** the ****** ***** ** tyranny.

Undisclosed #1

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

* ***** **** ** advocate *** * ****** resolution **** ******** ******** in *** ***** ** replace *** **** ******** with *** **** ****** when ********* ** *** potential ** **** ***** leading ** **** ***** thing **** ****'* *** desired ***** ******* **** the ******** ***** *** intended ** **********.

****** ***** ****** *** funnier **** ******** *****.

Undisclosed #4

03/09/19 12:52pm

**** ** ** **** files *** ******* *** sues ** *** ******** on ***.

*** *** ** ** court *** *** *** the **** ************ ******* to ***** * *** with ******* *****?

Undisclosed End User #5

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

*******, ***

Kyle Folger

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

**** ** ** **** went ** *** ****-*************** **** ******* ****** to ****** *** *** checkpoint ******* **** ****. This ** ******** ********* since, **** **** * read, **** *** ******** to ******** **** ***** checkpoints *** ******* *******. So ** ****** **** they **** ** **** it ****** *** ***'* want ** ** ** too ******. ** **** need ** ******* ***** DUI *********** *** ******** to **, *** ** it **** * *** deal ** **** ********* a *** ** ********* of ****** *******?

*'* ***** *** ****** do **** ****** ** front ** ******* **** when **** **** ***** they ***. ***** ** still *********. ** *** wear * **** *** gloves, ** *** ***** make ******* ******** ******* other **** *********** **** happened.

*'* **** **** ** the **** ** ******* the ******** ** *******. In ** ****, * know ***** **** ** the ******* *** *** many *****, **** ***** occurs, *** *** ******* are ******* ** *** opposite ********* *** *********** must **** ** ******* cameras ** **** ******* as ** **** ********.

*** ****** *** *** pretty ******** *** ** least *** **** ****** for ** **** ** have * *** ******* option **** *** **** set **** *** ** certain ****** *********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

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

********* ** * ******, **** ******** of *** ******* ** not **** *** **** & ***-***** adorned *******, ****** **** feel "*************" *** ** though ***** ** "** privacy,"

...***...

*** ****** *** *** pretty ******** *** ** least *** **** ****** for ** **** ** have * *** ******* option **** *** **** set **** *** ** certain ****** *********.

***'** **** ** ******* my ********* ****, * live ** * ***** unincorporated ********* *** ***** from *** ******* **********. Are ***** ****** ** all *** ****? ** do **** **** ** when ****** ** ******** or **** ***** *******?

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #6 | 03/27/19 06:11am

***, ***** ****** *** on *** *** ****. The ***'* **** ** my **** **** * found ********** **** *****************.***. * **** *** SEM3 ***** *** *** hi/low *******. ** **** used * **** ***** as **** *** ** didn't **** *** **/*** setting.

**** ** ** ***** of *** ** *** city *******. ****** *** SD *********. ** **** of *** ******* ******* they *** **** *** and **** ******** ****** and ** **** *****-****** camera. **** **** * lot **** *****.

* ** **** *** enclosures.

*** ****** ** **** sourced **** **** ******* clients *** **** *** city ******* *** **** we **** **** ********** the ******* **** ***** where *** **** ***** was. ** ** ***** a **** *****.

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | 05/08/19 01:14pm

** **** ******** *** following ****** ** *** story:

******: *** ******** ** now ** *** ******* information ** ** *** bottom ** *** ****.

* *** ******* ***** District ***** ***** ** May *, ****,******* **** *** **** provide *** ********* *** of *** ******** ******* cameras, ** **** *****:

********, ********* *** *********'* assertion ** ***** ********* that "*** ********* ** New ******* **** * basic ***** ** **** where *** **** ******* are *******," ** **** below:

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,448 reports, 867 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.