Residents press Cortland council for surveillance-accountability before approving camera grant

Public commenters told the Cortland Common Council that the city should fix problems with existing camera systems before expanding them. Danielle Windisch, who gave her address as 91 Greenville Street, said she reviewed body-camera footage of an officer responding to her home and disputed an officer's claim that a shotgun was present: "I unequivocally dispute that allegation. I own no firearm." She urged independent oversight, clear access and retention policies, regular audits comparing body-camera footage with police reports, and limits on who may search surveillance systems.

The administration responded that the city currently has 28 cameras at 11 locations, that some cameras (AI-based license-plate readers) were included in the grant proposal, and that officials plan a public-question forum and FAQ distributed via QR code to gather and answer residents' questions. The administration said it would review policies and the police commission's recommendations before deciding whether to spend the roughly $250,000 in grant funds on new technology.