HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Hilton Head Island is set to bolster surveillance measures by installing upgraded cameras at Coligny Beach, Coligny Beach Park, and Lowcountry Celebration Park.
“The new cameras will be equipped with artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology,” said Bob Bromage, the public safety director for Hilton Head Island.
Bromage mentioned that the decision resulted from a comprehensive security review conducted in collaboration with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
“The sheriff’s office provided insights and suggested that we enhance our technology,” Bromage explained, indicating that these recommendations played a key role in the island’s decision to upgrade its surveillance capabilities.
For several years, cameras have been a fixture in these areas. However, a series of incidents, particularly along the beach and at its entrance, prompted a reassessment of security needs, Bromage noted.
“Over the past several years, we’ve had increased complaints of juveniles and young adults and large groups gathering, fighting, bringing handguns to the beach, doing drugs, alcohol and underage drinking. So that’s what kind of led to where we’re at right now,” Bromage said.
That study showed the need to add better visibility and take away potential blind spots in a very busy area, especially during the summer.
“People are a little less comfortable when they know they’re being monitored. And we’re talking about people doing something wrong. So we’re looking to not just displace the problem but dissipate the problem,” said Bromage.
Some people have brought up privacy concerns that come with those new cameras.
Bromage says the footage will only be available to authorized members of town staff and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. It will be kept for two weeks, and only when a crime is committed or safety is compromised.
“We have better things to do than monitor families on vacation,” said Bromage. “We, of course, love tourism. We love our residents enjoying the beach, but we want to improve their safety as well. So we’re not watching them. We’re not watching the people who are doing nothing wrong. We’re watching people who are out there at midnight drinking, brandishing handguns.”
Recently, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office moved its portable camera onto Coligny Beach in response to recent incidents.
The new and improved cameras cost $190,000 from the town’s capital improvement projects budget. They are being installed starting this week. The project will be finished in the next 90 days.