A Sanford business owner, Mike Todd, was found shot to death last Monday morning on West 12th Street. There’s a growing memorial for Todd in the area where he was found dead. So far there’s been no arrests in the case. But people in the area said if surveillance cameras and more lighting had been set up in the area, it may be a different story.
“Cameras don’t lie. If I shoot you and it’s on camera, I can lie all I want to and that camera says you’re lying, you did this – and that’s what we need,” said Oscar Redden, Co-Founder of Brothers Keepers, a Goldsboro non-profit organization.
Redden works to improve life for people in Sanford’s historic Goldsboro neighborhood. But he says life can’t improve if people are living in fear.
“We need lights and cameras in these spots where they know all of this crime is going on,” said Redden.
We checked with Sanford Police, who said they do have access to some cameras owned by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. They periodically set those cameras up at different locations throughout the city but only for short periods of time.
The department has checked into getting their own cameras that could be set up permanently throughout Sanford, but a spokesperson said right now Sanford Police can’t afford the several hundred thousand dollars that a city-wide camera system would cost.
“We’ve been told the money isn’t there. But as a priority, I think they need to look at that again,” said Sanford City Commissioner Velma Williams.
Williams, who represents the Goldsboro neighborhood, says she’s been pushing for more cameras on the streets for 10 years. But she said for the city to pitch in funding for it, she’ll need a consensus from the entire Sanford City Commission.
“It’s something I feel very strongly about. But I’m only one person, and I’m going to need help from the mayor and the other commissioners,” said Williams
Sanford Police say they are getting some tips from the community after Monday’s homicide, but so far have not made any arrests.