Location of downtown Tampa surveillance cameras will be kept from the public

TAMPA - Whether it's the Republicans or the Democrats, conventions are almost always a flashpoint for police and protestors. At the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in 2008, some 800 protestors, reporters and bystanders were arrested.

Our local law enforcement is hoping for much less conflict when the GOP comes to Tampa next summer. Toward that end, Tampa police will be employing a ring of surveillance cameras to be installed around downtown and the convention center.

"There are going to be a lot of people in downtown and we don't have enough police officers to keep eyes everywhere, so we think the cameras will assist us in keeping people safe by giving us more eyes to view what's going on," said assistant Tampa Police Chief, Mark Hamlin.

Hamlin says he wants to keep delegates and protestors safe. And so as not to give troublemakers a tactical edge, the camera locations will be kept secret from the public. It's a decision that troubles some.

"It's a slippery slope when you talk about private cameras and no one knows where they are and no one knows who's watching them," said Pinellas political activist, Kofi Hunt.

Hunt says he knows of no protestors planning anything other than peaceful protests at or around the St. Pete Times forum next year. But Hunt believes protestors and police both have a responsibility to keep things safe and fair.

"There's definately a concern the government, the people in charge of security will step over the line. That's up to us to know where that line is supposed to be and what our rights are supposed to be," said Hunt.

Unpleasant scenes of tear gas, broken glass and baton-wielding police that were part of the most recent conventions in Denver and St. Paul, may be unavoidable along with the resulting lawsuits and bad publicity.

That's why Tampa police say they will only make arrests with probable cause.

"We don't want to put innocent people in jail. We're very cautious about who we arrest. We gather all the facts and I don't see things being different."