A successful application to the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund will enable the City of Dauphin to install additional security cameras at  several of its facilities.

The $24,353.20 grant will allow the City to add 15 cameras to its existing system of 17 high-resolution video feeds already in place.

The new cameras will be placed on city-owned proprieties including one additional camera at the CN Station to cover a blind spot in the existing coverage.

“It is very much needed following a 1,000 per cent increase in vandalism to this building in 2023 over 2022, including a dozen incidents of windows being smashed, jeopardizing the safety of multiple office tenants,” deputy city manager Lisa Gaudet said.

“The RCMP have been unable to charge the suspect without video evidence.”

An additional camera will also be installed at Dauphin Public Library, Gaudet said, to provide an extra security measure in light of a troubling increase in loitering, mischief and threats to the safety of library patrons and employees.

The Dauphin Veterinary Clinic, while not a City-owned facility will also receive a camera to help deter people from abandoning animals at the building.

“The City does contribute to the Dauphin District Vet Services Board and vet services owns the building,” Gaudet said.

“Cameras will help to identify vehicles dropping off animals at the vet clinic.”

A fourth camera will be installed at the Dauphin Waste Disposal Site, while the remaining pieces of surveillance equipment are earmarked for the City’s waterworks facilities, to protect the assets, secure the City’s water supply, and provide surveillance for criminal activity in these areas.

Three of the cameras will be used to secure the water treatment plant south of the city, while the rest will be placed at entrances to the City’s three lift stations and at the Brown Avenue Reservoir.

Gaudet was surprised the City’s application this year was funded as Dauphin received approximately $45,000 in 2023 to upgraded seven existing cameras and install 10 new ones.

The Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund is capitalized by cash and proceeds from the sale of forfeited property seized from criminals.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.