Police would be able to tap into San Jose residents’ private video cameras under a new proposal that would expand investigators’ watchful eye over the city but already is raising big brother-type privacy concerns. Councilman Sam Liccardo’s proposal, unveiled rently and set to be discussed by a City Council committee, would allow property owners voluntarily to register their security cameras for a new San Jose Police Department database.

Officers then would be able to access the footage quickly after a nearby crime has occurred. It is the latest effort designed to shore up public safety in a city that has seen its reputation as one of the safest big cities in America take a hit in recent years as crime rates have surged and officers have left in droves.

The issue is taking center stage heading into the June primary to replace outgoing Mayor Chuck Reed as five local leaders jockey for position as tough-on-crime candidates. Liccardo, among several council members running for mayor, unveiled the proposal in response to the string of arson fires that terrorized his downtown-area district this month.

Police used surveillance videos provided voluntarily by nearby property owners as key evidence in identifying a suspect they arrested on suspicion of burning about a dozen buildings.

"It became apparent that there’s a lot of evidence out there that residents want to provide," Liccardo said, predicting that the cost would be nominal because existing city technology employees could maintain the database. […]