Brenda Jensen believes video cameras on Metro Transit buses would have prevented one of the most frightening moments in her eight years as a driver. In January 2006, as Jensen was parked outside Memorial High School, a group of students exiting the bus were confronted by the school's police officer responding to reports that they were planning to start a fight. Jensen didn't think much of the incident until later as she was driving other students home. After the bus hit a bump, causing a thunk in the back, Jensen turned around to see a concerned child bringing forward the object that had fallen to the floor. "I stopped and had a heart attack right there because this little girl was holding a loaded gun," Jensen said. The students had hidden what turned out to be a realistic-looking pellet gun and a baseball bat underneath a seat. Fortunately no one was hurt, but Jensen doesn't think those students would have tried to bring weapons on the bus if they knew they were being watched. A few months after that incident, Metro Transit equipped 15 of its 200 buses with four cameras each, and now Metro officials want to put cameras on all of its buses sooner than originally planned. Metro plans to equip about half of its fleet with cameras by the end of next year, with the rest being added by the end of 2010 for a total cost of $429,000. When cameras were introduced last year, officials expected to add just 15 more each year and only on replacement buses. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he supports the program, which is funded partly with money that would have been used to put police officers on some buses. Metro also has installed cameras at its Transfer Points and the city is installing nine police cameras in various locations Downtown. "The evidence is that it works," Cieslewicz said. "We've noticed a significant improvement in behavior on buses when cameras are present." Metro General Manager Chuck Kamp said the cameras have helped the bus agency in four areas: working with schools to discipline students, training bus drivers, handling passenger complaints and assisting police investigations. Footage provides evidence Gary French, a bus driver for 20 years and a union representative, said while some drivers wanted the cameras, others were initially concerned because they felt like they were being watched. French said the concern isn't widespread because video footage is only downloaded from the cameras when an incident occurs. Otherwise the footage is not constantly monitored and is recorded over every 20 hours. "One huge advantage is if a driver is in an accident," French said. There have been two or three instances in the last year when a camera on a bus has helped set the record straight on who was at fault, French said. Metro has shared the video of serious incidents such as fights with school officials and police to correct student misbehavior. The school district does not have jurisdiction over students while they ride Metro buses, . In other cases, students may alert school officials about an incident, and the school can ask Metro to review video footage, said Luis Yudice, safety coordinator for the Madison School District. "The camera is an excellent tool, but it has its limitations," Yudice said, noting that some schools still have security assistants ride some routes. He agreed that videos have helped keep order, though no data is available yet that shows a reduction in incidents. Jensen, who in addition to the gun incident has been attacked by passengers in the past, said there is a noticeable difference in the behavior of students and other passengers on buses with cameras.
"If they know there's a camera on the bus," Jensen said. "they're not going to perform in front of it."
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