There are new developments as Dallas police investigate a recent string of violent crime in the Oak Lawn neighborhood.
Dallas police Monday afternoon installed the first surveillance camera near Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs. Many residents had no idea the cameras would be up so soon.
"Last week the LGBT Task Force was told where they are going to go, and that was Wednesday. It's Monday and we've got a camera up," said Rafael McDonnell, advocacy manager for the Resource Center, which serves Dallas' LGBT community.
"Government doesn't usually work that fast. It's great to see it work this quickly," he added.
There have been about a dozen violent attacks in this area this fall, mostly attempted robberies or robberies. Police classified the motive for one beating as a hate-crime.
Police ordered 10 surveillance cameras but they may not be ready until the end of January. In light of Thursday night's attack, though, police met with the vendor and asked about getting a camera up as quickly as possible.
The vendor Hitachi was able to loan out a "loaner" camera that will be used for the next several weeks.
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"Our vendor Hitachi was kind enough to say we've got something we can give you temporarily," said Dallas police Major Elaine Page. "So this location is a permanent location, but the camera itself will be switched out once the new cameras come in."
Major Page added the loaner camera has all the technology the permanent camera does.
"We have plenty more coming soon," she said.
The cameras store video for 14 days. Detectives can zoom in and out and move the lens around. They're effective during the day and at night.
Police say cameras do a lot more than just solve crimes.
"It's two part. Hopefully having these cameras up the citizens feel safer, they know there are more eyes watching out here. But also it'll make the bad guys stay away," Major Page said. "If they look around a see a police camera up there, they hopefully will just get out of the area."
Police have also stepped up their patrols here through a special task force, and boosted their undercover presence.
Residents hope the cameras provide permanent protection, for years to come.
"Oak Lawn is the heart of LGBT Dallas. It's known around the country even around the world for that. So long-term safety is what we need to be looking at, and that's what these cameras will help us achieve," McDonnell said.
