05-04-2025
Hoboken installs AI-powered cameras at Church Square Park to enhance safety
HOBOKEN, N.J. (PIX11) — On any given day, Church Square Park in Hoboken is packed with people — and now, it's also packed with cameras.
Thirty new sets of eyes were installed at the park after people living nearby called for change.
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'It's an improvement. We had cameras before they weren't working,' said First Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano.
The park has recently raised concerns, especially after police said a nanny was attacked and knocked unconscious in the park in October.
'That kind of sparked some outrage in the community, because it happened during the day, kids were around,' Presinzano said.
After that, Presinzano said close to 200 people attended this city council meeting to share their safety concerns.
'There were other gripes in town, it came to a head,' he said.
And it seems the police department was listening.
'We heard that, we responded with it,' said Lt. Jonathan Mecka with Hoboken Police.
The department recently installed 30 AI-driven cameras across the park.
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They're easy to spot, and police hope that alone helps deter troublemakers. But if that doesn't help, maybe the AI can.
'If we have a situation with a blue visor or blue vest, we can type in blue vest, and the cameras will automatically pick our people within the park that have that,' he said
It could be a game changer for police work, Mecka said.
'The ability to be able to search for a camera and put that search field in I know from personal experience just with an iPhone it's amazing,' he said.
The $135,000 camera system was funded by grant money, helping residents like Trisha Brown feel safe when she's out walking her dog.
'Just just like any place you have to be smart about it. I feel safe it seems like people are kind of watching out for each other,' Brown said.
Police also added more lighting to the park and keep an officer stationed there at all times.
Mecka says the next step in their safety plan is to add more police officers to the force.
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