Two Lancaster mothers say the city needs cameras

Recently, there have been some complaints about Lancaster having as many as 165 cameras on the streets through the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition. This month, there was even a rally to show opposition to what some feel is too "Big Brother."

But, two local mothers say these cameras are too important to the city to be upset about. Freda Hall Stewart's son, 19 year old Tyquan Hall, was shot in the 300 block of Prince Street in 2007. The murder happened in an area where there are cameras. She says they helped to get police there quickly, and then helped police find her son's killer. "It's easy to speak about removing cameras, until you experience what I'm experiencing, you want to try to fight." She continues, "The day I walked up to my son's casket, I made a promise to my son that his death would not be in vain."

Diane Johnson Williams lost her daughter this past January. Mary Johnson, 29, was shot in the back five times. On the way to the hospital, she was able to tell police the name of the person who shot her. But Williams says it would have been much easier if there would have been cameras at the intersection of Pershing and Chester Streets. "If it was on camera, and Mary had said who shot her, that would have been an open and shut case."

The two mothers say they'll continue to support the cameras. Hall Stewart says, "I wouldn't have had closure. Because of the cameras, I am so grateful."