Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley is expanding its public safety camera system to help improve safety across the city. City leaders say the cameras support police work and can help solve cases faster. They also say the cameras can increase coverage without adding as many staff. The expansion is part of a larger plan to place more cameras in key areas.

The Foley City Council voted this week to purchase and install nine additional cameras for the municipal system. The city did not release the locations of the new cameras. Officials said the cameras will be installed at intersections and other locations around Foley.

During the council discussion, Police Chief Kevin Carnley said the move fits the city’s ongoing strategy. “This is part of our plan to add more cameras throughout the city for security purposes,” Carnley said. “They play an integral role in everything we're doing now.”

Carnley pointed to a recent incident in north Foley as an example of how cameras can help. He said city cameras and privately owned cameras worked together to resolve the situation. “That cooperation between some of our systems and the systems that people have on their residences helped us solve that,” Carnley told council members. “So we're asking to put in more cameras.”

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said he supports the growing network of cameras because it can strengthen public safety work. “I'm a big believer in cameras,” Hellmich said. “I think they’re a force multiplier, and they have been invaluable over the past few years.”

Hellmich also said the city needs to select camera equipment carefully for each location. “I've found that all cameras are not created equal,” Hellmich said. “It depends on the location. Some are more expensive than others. Some are more complicated. They try to find the best fit for that situation and not cost exorbitant money.”

To help manage costs, Hellmich said the city is working with local utility providers during installation. He said that a partnership could reduce costs associated with installing systems around Foley. Officials did not provide details about the expected savings.

Carnley said the city’s approach includes using multiple vendors for camera equipment. He said having multiple systems can keep the overall network working if one system must be taken offline. “We work with multiple vendors so that the systems are not all the same,” Carnley said.

He added that the goal is to avoid losing coverage citywide during maintenance. “If one goes down for maintenance, we don't want the whole city to be out at one time. So we do have multiple systems that we use,” Carnley said.

City officials said the camera purchase is part of the second phase of Foley’s Public Safety Systems Improvement Capital Project. The expansion reflects the city’s broader effort to strengthen security tools used by police and other public safety workers. The city has credited both public and private camera systems with improving public safety in recent years.