Whether used as crime deterrents or investigative aids, the surveillance cameras in Beaver Canyon have proved to be largely ineffective, according to some community officials.

The State College Borough Council is now faced with the decision of whether or not to move one of the cameras from Beaver Avenue to a high-crime area on Calder Way.

Last week, State College Police Chief Tom King presented a report to the council outlining the cameras' usefulness over the past year. The report included the results of a student survey, which showed that two thirds of those surveyed were unaware of the Beaver Avenue cameras.

"It showed what I thought it would. It didn't show that they did very much," said Borough Council President Tom Daubert. "I sort of think it's not worth the time and effort anymore."

Daubert, who voted against installing the cameras, said he would rather see money spent on additional police patrol in the area of Beaver Canyon.

"I really don't think they're effective, and I don't think they're the kind of thing we should be doing," he said.

An advisory committee recommended that council spend $3,000 to increase the cameras' storage capacity from three days to eight days and $2,500 for maintenance and upkeep. The committee also recommended moving one camera to the intersection of Calder Way and McAllister Alley.

Daubert said he supported moving one of the cameras to Calder Way if it did not require additional money.

As a member of the advisory committee, council member Janet Knauer said that other members felt a camera on Calder Way could serve more of a purpose than if it was on Beaver Avenue.

"I don't go there at night," Knauer said. "I don't know if it's good, bad or indifferent [to install a camera]."

Council member Cathy Dauler said cameras and increased lighting on Calder Way could serve as a deterrent to crime.

Dauler said she expected the cameras to be used as investigative aids to identify criminals and that having police monitor the surveillance cameras could increase results.

"I feel we've invested money in these cameras, and if we can use them so they really do provide extra investigative information, ... I think we should spend that $2,000 or maybe the additional $3,000 as well," Dauler said.

Statistics on the cameras' effectiveness this past year showed little effect on local crime. Fifty crimes were reported in the area in the year prior to the cameras' installation, and 47 crimes were reported in the area since.

Of those surveyed, one in three said that they feel safer with the cameras on Beaver Avenue, and 51 percent said they were not opposed to live monitoring during peak crime times.

Council member Craig Humphrey said he originally voted in favor of installing the cameras to deter riots because recordings from video cameras were helpful to police in identifying rioters in March 2001.

"The effect of the cameras statistically was not terribly significant," he said. "If the same kind of results come in another year, I think the cameras should be removed."

Cameras are currently located at the intersections of Beaver Avenue and McAllister Street, Beaver Avenue and Hiester Street, and Beaver Avenue and Locust Lane.

Council voted 4-3 in favor of revisiting the issue at a future work session rather than holding a public hearing.