Family of homicide victim demands answers from Oakland over surveillance cameras that don't work

Image 1 of 2

The family of a homicide victim is demanding answers from the city of Oakland after learning that some city surveillance cameras don't work and probably haven't worked in years.

When the city-owned cameras work properly, they can be an important tool to help detectives solves crimes.
But as KTVU  found out when cameras don't work and aren't fixed, it can allow someone to get away with murder.

Cesar Chavez Park in the Fruitvale District is a place young families visit often. It's a place of comfort  for those who grew up in this neighborhood.

"I walked through this park going to elementary school as a young kid  and I  feel safe," says Celaniz Vigil, whose brother was killed last month at the park.

It may be a false sense of security.

There are six surveillance cameras in and around the park that are maintained by the city.  There are signs that read, "The park is under 24 hour video surveillance." But none of them worked on August 30, when there was a double homicide. KTVU has  learned that the cameras haven't worked in years.

"I would say based on the information I got from the technology representative, they haven't been working for about 4-5 years," says Noel Gallo, city council member who represents the Fruitvale District where the park is located.

Gallo says he first learned that the cameras weren't working  last October when there was a double  homicide across the street from the park and Gallo came to the park to check on the cameras.

He says he found the control center at the park, which operates the cameras flooded by a bathroom in the same building.

"We opened the door and it was flooded.  It shorted out the cameras and the system," says Gallo.

We asked the city administrator's office about the status of cameras at other parks and rec centers.

The city says there are cameras at nine locations. So far, workers have counted 78 cameras at six of those locations and that all are functional.

A city spokeswoman says workers are still collecting the number and  status of cameras at three additional locations..

As for the non-working cameras at Cesar Chavez Park, the city said in a statement:

"We are still awaiting delivery of all of the components so that we can complete repair and installation.  The vendor advises that it should arrive within the next 7-10 days."

They added that staff will be installing them as soon as the parts arrive.

"I know the cameras working isn't going to bring my brother back," says Celaniz Vigil.

Her brother Augustine Vigil was  one of two men shot and killed  at Cesar Chavez Park last month.

Vigil says whoever killed her brother would have been caught on video by the surveillance cameras had they been working.

"My brother had four beautiful children. Whoever did this needs to be caught," says Vigil. 

She says this is not only about getting justice for her brother.

Vigil says everyone who uses a city park deserves to have working cameras.

Council member Gallo says he's working on getting a person who will go out , check on, and maintain  surveillance cameras so this problem doesn't persist.