IN BRIEF: Conyers is looking at moving forward with police monitored surveillance cameras in commercial and retail areas.

The city council expressed approval at their mid-year retreat on Thursday for looking at funding the purchase of the infrastructure for the camera system.

The cameras, ideally about 25 in total, would be placed on the West Avenue/Klondike Road corridor, the Dogwood Drive corridor near Ga. 138, and the Ga. 138 corridor going down to Target. Conyers Police Capt. Scott Freeman said locations that could view residential areas were avoided.

The total cost would be about $16,500 for the infrastructure in the 911 center and about $300,000 for the 25 cameras.

The city has about $102,000 this year in forfeiture funds, typically from drug and crime siezures, that can be spent on the surveillance system.

Freeman called the cameras a "force multiplier." One 911/dispatch center employee would be dedicated to monitoring the screens and training would be implemented for the dispatch center.