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There are 26 extra eyes in the City of Lynwood. 

These “eyes” are the 26 cameras that the city and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department installed in 2008 to help lower crime and prostitution.

Most of them can be found up and down Long Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard.

It’s no secret that the City of Lynwood has a troubled history when it comes to crime. City officials have noted that Lynwood is “situated in the highest crime rate region of those patrolled by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.”

In addition, Lynwood had developed a reputation as a prostitution hub. According to Lt. Ernie Chavez from the LASD Century Station, Lynwood was known among prostitutes as a prime location to work, particularly along Long Beach Boulevard. 

The city cameras, however, are lowering prostitution-related activity, and both city officials and LASD officials agree the cameras are a beneficial addition to the city’s crime patrols.

“They have been a great asset to fighting crime and are really successful,” said Chavez.

The video monitoring is part of a greater surveillance program called the Advanced Surveillance and Protection (ASAP) program. In addition to the video cameras, ASAP includes acoustic gunshot detection, automatic license plate recognition scanners and a mobile device that allows deputies to scan thumbprints of suspects for immediate identification.

ASAP and its video surveillance were a big part of why Lynwood won the All-America City Award in 2010, a national award that is given to just 10 communities a year for outstanding civic accomplishments.

The City of Lynwood purchased the first 10 cameras in 2008 at a cost of $250,000. In 2009, the city received a grant from the Department of Justice for an additional camera. In 2010, 11 more were purchased for $240,000 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to Deborah Jackson, city public relations director.

The cameras cost the city $30,000 to maintain annually, she said.

At the Century Station, a deputy monitors the cameras, and can pan them up, down, right and left, and even zoom in if necessary. Chavez was quick to note the cameras are strictly for monitoring suspicious activity.

“(The cameras) are there to protect, not intrude,” he said. “For the most part, residents support them.”

Jackson added that the locations for the cameras were chosen “based on problem areas.”

“They are primarily on Long Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue,” said Jackson. “They cannot be installed in residential areas or anywhere people have a reasonable expectation of privacy.”

These cameras can be identified by signs next to them that read, “Smile…You’re in Lynwood.”

“Although the signs are light-hearted, the Los Angeles County Sheriff himself made it clear … that prostitution, gang activity, tagging and drug dealing will no longer be tolerated and, if you bring that type of activity to Lynwood, you will be arrested,” city officials said.

Three years later, city officials said they are convinced the cameras were a good purchase.

“You may see a prostitute every now and then, but for the most part, that problem has been deterred by the cameras,” Jackson said.