Soon, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) will have another tool by which it can investigate crimes, find missing persons and vehicles, and improve public safety. More than 60 cameras will be installed Downtown, in Carolyn Crayton Park, and along the Riverwalk. 

“With these cameras, we’ll better be able to protect people and property – and solve crimes should they happen – without having to assign a deputy to each spot 24-7,” said Sheriff David Davis. “We’ll be able to get alerts anytime something happens – and where it happens – and be able to respond much quicker.”

Each of the cameras will have the ability to send notifications to crime analysts at BSO when something specific occurs, such as person or vehicle of interest, crowds gathering, motion alerts, camera tampering, and more. This frees up deputies from having to be on site or always watching each camera.  

“For people to know they’re on camera should minimize crime and allow law enforcement to catch those in the wrong fairly quickly,” says Marshall Talley, General Manager of Vibez on Cherry Street, pointing out they and others are already paying a great deal of money for their cameras and private security. “With all the residential and commercial investment going on – and with all the people coming downtown – public safety and security should be a top priority.”

“While we have cameras already at our business, this will definitely add a much-needed extra layer of protection for us and our patrons. It’s great that if something were to happen, sheriffs can get to the right spot and identify the people involved faster,” says Anthony Howard, Owner of Serenity Entertainment Complex on Poplar Street.

“This business and these properties are more than just an investment in Downtown for us…they’re an investment in our family’s future,” says BJ Dunwody of Dunwody Design Development. “I’m so grateful to the city and Sheriff’s Office for taking this step to help with safety in the area. There’s no way we could get this level of 24-7 coverage without them.” 

“We wanted to have the greatest impact on safety for the largest number of people, so we focused on where they gather the most throughout the year and on a regular basis,” said Mayor Lester Miller. “We are continuing to bring in new technology to help our deputies protect our community, and this will provide an extra layer of protection for hundreds of thousands of people.” 

The areas were selected because of the large number of people that gather there throughout the year, plus the increasing foot traffic in the improving Park and along the popular Riverwalk. There will be 36 cameras Downtown, eight along the Riverwalk, and 20 in Carolyn Crayton Park.

“The crowds at the Christmas Lights continue to get larger every year, and it will be great to have these cameras in place next year supporting the deputies already helping us out,” says Bryan Nichols, organizer of the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza. “It will definitely make me feel better should something happen, and I know it will make other people feel safer while they’re here with their families.”

Nearly 800,000 people visited Downtown during the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza, and hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy the Park, Riverwalk, and the dozens of other festivals in the area each year. Additionally, there are tens of thousands of people that come Downtown every single day of the week, whether to work, eat, or shop.