New Rochelle Police Commissioner Anthony Murphy says surveillance video technology is a "tremendous investigative tool."
He says the cameras won't be monitored all the time, but will be reviewed for evidence to support criminal investigations. They will be installed on downtown streets, at highway ramps and near schools.
The video footage will be destroyed after 35 to 40 days.
Privacy advocates say the local government needs to have clear policies, rules and training for the use of surveillance video.
The Weschester County city is about 20 miles north of Manhattan.
