It’s time to catch criminals

It is good to see that there are campus petitions posted to allow cameras to be installed in  parking lots.

There have been 14  hit-and-run incidents in the last year, and campus police could not identify anyone responsible for them.

We understand that it is hard to find those responsible when there is no witness and no security camera to refer to.

We are pleased to see that the cameras may be put to use.

Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar said he wouldn’t approve placing the parking lot cameras until he is sure students support it.

We support it. It is important to utilize the resources that exist, especially when it can benefit campus safety.

Parking lot cameras treat community members and visitors equally. They are not like cameras secretly mounted in trees aimed at only some particular residence or location.

Moreover, we appreciate that the school administrators are considering the students’ opinions before they install cameras. Students must feel that they are being respected and their opinions matter -at least this time.

We would be surprised if there was opposition to the parking lot cameras. We have crimes being committed–14 times in the last year–and no apparently effective way of catching those responsible. That’s not good.

We believe if the administrators address issues like this more often–publicly and involving students in the decision-making process–many problems could be solved.

It would increase the communication administrators should seek from the community for fewer misinterpretations.

Cameras installed will not only help identify the people responsible for crimes that happened on campus, but also prevent incidents from happening because drivers would know that they are being watched.

This is a slam-dunk. Place the parking lot cameras. The sooner the better.