State Attorney Jack Campbell is questioning recent decisions by local elected officials to limit surveillance technology following Saturday’s mass shooting near Florida A&M University that left 12 people injured.
In comments reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, Campbell suggested that decisions restricting surveillance capabilities have made it more difficult for investigators to obtain a complete picture of the Oct. 24 shooting near Perry and Manatee streets.
“This is a great example of the fact that choices and decisions have consequences,” Campbell said. “This was clearly a public and a huge a celebration, FAMU homecoming, every homecoming, Leon High homecoming, there were thousands of people there. And we had some surveillance, but we need a lot more.”
Campbell specifically questioned decisions made by local leaders.
“But because of some of the decisions our leaders have made, we’ve slowed down our video capabilities,” he said. “Because of that, I don’t have the whole shooting. I have some of it on video, but I don’t have it all.”
His comments come after the Tallahassee City Commission voted unanimously in September to suspend approximately 150 automated license plate reader cameras operated by the Tallahassee Police Department.
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow had pushed for an immediate suspension of the technology. His initial motion failed 3-2 before commissioners approved a broader suspension.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office had previously suspended its license plate reader program.
Supporters of the restrictions have raised privacy concerns about the collection and sharing of vehicle information. Law enforcement officials have defended the technology as an important investigative tool.
However, license plate readers primarily capture vehicle information rather than continuous video of public gatherings. Campbell’s comments did not establish whether the suspended readers would have captured additional footage of Saturday’s shooting.
Police arrested 15-year-old Anthony Rivers III on Sunday. He faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and a firearm charge.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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