Oak Bluffs is considering adding new security camera coverage downtown.
At last week’s select board meeting, Oak Bluffs police Chief Jonathan Searle approached the board to make the case for cameras in the Circuit avenue area, arguing that it would make the area safer by both preventing crime and collecting evidence.
The first step, according to town administrator Wendy Brough, would be the town expanding its security camera policy to allow for the new installations.
“We’ve seen recently, there are more severe incidents, and it would be great to have the ability to get footage of such things to assist in identification and prosecutions if needed,” Chief Searle said.
Chief Searle told the board that the system of new cameras would not be widespread, information collected would not be shared and would only be stored for 30 days.
“There’s never audio recorded,” he said. “It’s just simple video recording.”
Select board chair Dion Alley mentioned Circuit avenue, Kennebec avenue and Healey Square as areas that could benefit from more coverage.
For select board member Mark Leonard, the issue of privacy was a concern. He wondered how it could be impeded by increased security camera presence.
“When you start putting cameras on public spaces, you move from security, like our current policy, to a surveillance system,” he said. “There’s privacy concerns.”
Select board member Emma Green-Beach said she understood Mr. Leonard’s concerns about privacy, but that the idea behind the cameras is not to create around-the-clock surveillance.
“It’s not surveillance, it’s not Big Brother, it’s not watching us all the time,” she said. “It is a tool to solve issues, to find answers if something comes up.”
Chief Searle reiterated the importance of the measure. He said the department recently used private security footage to solve a hit and run.
“It’s necessary to have this at our disposal,” he said.
The board will vote on the policy change at a future meeting.
This article appears in August 7, 2026.
This proposal relies partially on the argument that security cameras stop crime, which is not true. With all of the recent examples of misuse of mass surveillance technology (although the Chief claims this not to be mass surveillance, that’s what it is…) I think we need to carefully consider the ramifications and pitfalls associated with it’s use – including how it could be used in a negative way. Also, what happened to good old fashioned police work? Or knowing your community? We are after all a small island, someone somewhere knows something when any crime happens here. Really let’s not move away from community policing in favor of technology whose negative effects are only starting to become known.
Why do you say security cameras don’t stop crime? Of course security cameras stop crime. The sooner a suspect can be identified the sooner he/she can be stopped and brought to justice. Camera footage has provided irrefutable evidence in criminal cases in the past. And will continue to do so going forward. Summers are hard enough for our police officers. Give them the tools to keep all of us safe.
No brainer. We’re way past 1984. Everyone has a camera, yet few are willing to assist the POLICE. It’s a shame , shame , shame. Chief Searle tell ’em all that line from The Steely Dan song “Peg”,,, “And when you smile for the camera, I know I’ll love you better.”
These are not “security” cameras, it’s surveillance.
I believe Islanders should continue to resist the impending surveillance state we seem to be heading for. Off island is already becoming pretty dystopic with flock cameras everywhere.
Local government representatives arguing that installing public surveillance cameras as “not big brother” is pretty ironic and stating “it’s not watching all the time” is categorically false.
Surveillance doesn’t make us all safer, it erodes our collective individual freedoms and right to privacy. The amount of documented instances of abuse and expanded use government surveillance systems have had, should give the select board pause in giving into such requests from the Chief.
What privacy do you have in public?
The Chief knows what is best for protecting the town and tourists
How many unsolved crimes have there been in Oak Bluffs? We should know what we’re trading our privacy for. I’d echo Tom B’s points.
We’ve gone forever without them, why now? There’s a lot less shenanigans going on in town now than back in the day. Put cops on the street and prevent crime before it happens.
Put more cops on the street? My husband wanted to fill an opening in the OBPD. Then we found we couldn’t afford a home anywhere on the island, and there were no year round rentals available. No way he was going to take the ferry back and forth. Where do you propose to find these extra police?
I would need much more information about their plans; who owns the cameras, where is the data stored, how do we know the data is actually deleted after 30 days, who has access to the data, is flock involved in any way?
R.Scott Patterson, of Edgartown, personally needs much more information? Our Chief of Police, requesting additional cameras, in Oak Bluffs, is not strong enough for the gentleman from Edgartown. We have a solid police chief, and I trust his judgement in making this request.
I just read this and am simply gob smacked. What on earth is going on? Cameras? Crime? On this island? Do the crime, get put on the ferry as in days of old. Who on earth is coming here to have this happen? I wrote it before, and will write it again: WE have become a suburb of Boston. I am so despondent over this, I cannot tell you. It makes me heartsick.
I have no problem with additional security cameras, but I remember Chief Williamson had active members on Circuit Ave to help with all sorts of criminal prevention and an aid in traffic control! I miss those days of organization!
In the ‘old days’ you could hire special officers who took a one-week course and were able to supplement the year round police force. The new laws require special officers to attend an off island police academy similar to full time officers. Unless someone was trying to make themselves more hire-able for a full time job, they won’t have the time*months* nor make the effort to attend that academy.
First and foremost stop with this nonsense about privacy YOU the general public have NO expectation of privacy in Public period. Cameras are everywhere we live here on Martha’s Vineyard a tourist island everyone is filming and taking pictures so stop this nonsense about privacy . This proposal for cameras is absolutely the best tool to solve a lot of crimes that happen on a daily basis. The police have to rely on posting on social media asking for help because they don’t have cameras recording 24 hours a day to review when something happens. Example Mr. Peters camera caught the hit and run truck on his house camera from the circuit ave incident. You didn’t ask him to turn his camera off after seeing the footage because of your privacy did you No you didn’t because it’s public so stop with this nonsense about privacy. Having film recordings of downtown areas to review will only help Business owners with their videos combined with professional equipment with clearer images on the street to identify the wrong doers. There is nothing Negative about this proposal. Thank You Chief Searle.
There’s a huge difference between privately owned security cameras and public security cameras. Namely that they need a warrant to compel the release of that privately owned footage. Which in turn would be reviewed by a judge as to discern whether the need for such release was adequate and didn’t violate your rights.
Only criminals are intimidated by a camera.
These people concerned about their privacy need to wake up and smell the coffee. The island every summer is becoming more and more crowded, especially with aggressive people looking for trouble. More cameras is a no brainer and the least we can do, especially after what happened a couple months ago.
What privacy are you talking about losing. If you are afraid of being seen walking down the street ,then you are probably doing something you shouldn’t be doing.RIGHT
With our federal government pushing us towards totalitarianism, more cameras, could, in the future, become a tool for culling “undesirables”. My point of view is that the vineyard needs more prescient public art, and less surveillance. Speak up, speak out!
Anybody who is worried about being surveilled by security cameras, but carries a cell phone, doesn’t really understand the situation.