As we’ve written before, there’s nothing more important to a community at large than public safety.

Sometimes we surrender a bit of our civil liberties in exchange for a higher level of security. The security cameras in downtown Renton are an example.

The security cameras are keeping watch at the Renton Transit Center and elsewhere in downtown Renton – including at Liberty Park. The camera there provided Renton Police with a key piece of evidence in their search for a suspect in a homicide at the park.

Even the public is ambivalent. Our straw poll last week showed roughly a split decision whether people feel safer because of the cameras.

Yes, cameras are watching us. But they’re also sentinels in the fight against crime.