The City of Foley is expanding its municipal camera system at intersections and other locations as part of ongoing efforts to enhance public safety.

The Foley City Council recently approved the purchase and installation of nine additional cameras for the city’s public safety system. Specific camera locations were not released.

Police Chief Kevin Carnley said the expansion is part of a long-term plan to strengthen security throughout the city.

“This is part of our plan to add more cameras throughout the city for security purposes,” Carnley said. “They play an integral role in everything we’re doing now.”

Carnley noted that cooperation between city-operated cameras and privately owned systems recently helped law enforcement resolve an incident in north Foley.

“That cooperation between some of our systems and the systems that people have on their residences helped us solve that,” Carnley told council members. “So we’re asking to put in more cameras.”

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said surveillance cameras have proven to be a valuable tool for public safety.

“I’m a big believer in cameras,” Hellmich said. “I think they’re a force multiplier, and they have been invaluable over the past few years.”

The mayor added that city officials carefully evaluate camera types to ensure they are appropriate for each location and cost-effective.

“I’ve found that all cameras are not created equal,” Hellmich said. “It depends on the location. Some are more expensive than others. Some are more complicated. We try to find the best fit for that situation and not cost exorbitant money.”

Hellmich said the city is also working with local utility providers to help reduce installation costs.

Carnley explained that using multiple camera systems from different vendors adds an extra layer of reliability.

“We work with multiple vendors so that the systems are not all the same,” Carnley said. “If one goes down for maintenance, we don’t want the whole city to be out at one time. So we do have multiple systems that we use.”

The camera purchase is part of Phase II of the city’s Public Safety Systems Improvement Capital Project.