Papillion, NE - The Papillion Police Department installed four surveillance cameras in various test locations around the city, hoping to catch criminals in the act.

Chief Leonard Houloose:  "One of the factors that eventually will decide where they permanently go is are those places that we view as most susceptible to either trespassing or vandalism."

Chief Leonard Houloose shows Action 3 News how the surveillance system works.  Right now, there are two cameras at Papio Bay Pool.  The third camera is near Papio Fun Park and the fourth is at the Amphitheater.  Chief Houloose can access all cameras from his computer and says eventually officers will be able to access those same cameras inside their cruisers.  It's technology that could save a life.

Chief Leonard Houloose:  "An officer responding to a call that might not know what he or she is getting into would be able to, if we have this capability, to have a set of eyes on the situation before they arrive."

But are the surveillance cameras necessary?  Action 3 News hit the streets to find out and reaction is mixed.

Susan Freshman:  "If you put them in high crime areas and to stop the crime, I don't see any problem with it."

Dale Saylors:  "I would say it's probably money better spent in Omaha, not Papillion."

Tammy Kamin:  "If it helps keep our families safer and our neighborhoods safer then I'm all for it."

Chief Houloose hopes to get funding for more cameras.  They cost roughly $2,000 each.

Reported by Kerri Stowell, kstowell@action3news.com.