Columbia, Mo., voters approve surveillance cameras

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Columbia voters have endorsed a plan to put in downtown surveillance cameras to address concerns about rising crime.

Unofficial returns from Tuesday's city election show that the initiative petition started by the mother of an assault victim won the support of 59 percent of voters. The ballot measure known as Proposition 1 won by a margin of more than 3,300 votes.

The decision on where to place the cameras rests with Columbia police chief Ken Burton. The ballot measure also did not include details on how the city will pay for the devices.