Kenosha’s police chief has decided not to install surveillance cameras throughout the city — at least for now.

Though the City Council approved funding for the plan, it hasn’t materialized because of obstacles in the Wisconsin Legislature, and Chief John Morrissey said his department isn’t confident in the technology.

The chief proposed the plan last year, asking for 28 cameras at a cost of $500,000, spread over 2009 and 2010.

For 2009, Morrissey had hoped to have eight cameras, as well as the equipment needed to install and monitor them. The plan also called for two portable “graffiti cams” to be mounted at places prone to vandalism, such as the city’s beach houses and park buildings.

For 2010, Morrissey had requested 12 traffic cameras, triggered by red lights, placed at some of the city’s busiest and most dangerous intersections.

State law unchanged

The Legislature, however, failed to change state traffic laws that prohibit authorities from using photographs to ticket motorists who drive through red lights. So Morrissey withdrew his $200,000 request for the traffic cameras.

Being able to write citations was a key component of the plan, Morrissey said.

“I can’t justify spending $200,000 on infrastructure for three or four surveillance cameras throughout the city, so we’re not going to do that at this point in time,” he said.

‘Graffiti cams’

Morrissey said the department still intends to buy some “graffiti cams,” and eventually two or three mobile cameras like one the Police Department placed last year at 61st Street and 20th Avenue.

But based on the technology that’s available, Morrissey opted not to buy anything this year.

“I’m not going to just spend it because it’s there,” Morrissey said. “A couple of the graffiti cams we’ve looked at, they look nice. But there’s issues with battery length. There’s issues with quality. So until I’m confident that the technology is there, I’m just not going to spend that money.”

Last year, the Kenosha Police Department mounted a surveillance camera borrowed from the state’s Department of Narcotics Enforcement at 61st Street and 20th Avenue. The camera caught a drug transaction, and police were able to make an arrest.

Critics argued the plan amounted to government spying and cut into constitutional rights. But Morrissey disagreed, noting the well-marked cameras would be in public areas. He also said the cameras would be beneficial in helping police catch suspects in robberies, assaults, burglaries or vandalism.