FALL RIVER - About 35 residents and city elected officials met at police headquarters Tuesday night to hear about the city's soon-to-be-unveiled Fall River Safe View System.

While some residents were pushing Police Chief John M. Souza to place the surveillance cameras in their neighborhoods, others were voicing displeasure with the system's intrusive potential.

Souza said he held the meeting to allay any fears community members may have about the government spying on them.

But South End resident Wendy Malefant said the chief did not go far enough.

Malefant brought up the classic George Orwell novel "1984," as impetus for her remarks.

She said during and after the meeting that the government in Fall River and across the country is going too far in regards to privacy rights.

"This is sounding like shades of "1984" and George Orwell," Malefant said. "In my opinion, we are already at Big Brother in this country.

"I'd rather have more police walking the beat than these cameras."

Souza said he was expecting Orwell's masterpiece to be brought up during the public forum and actually thanked Malefant for her comments.

But Souza also made it clear he has no interest in utilizing the cameras to infringe on privacy rights.

"We will not film any place that is not public," Souza exclaimed. "I promise we will not cross the line.

"As agents of the government we take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. I intend to do that."

Malefant, though, was not swayed by Souza's words, and continued to harp on recent national issues regarding wiretapping and the Patriot Act.

"With the way fear is being used in this country, to take away civil liberties, I can see these rules being bent in the future," Malefant said to the chief.

While making his case for the surveillance cameras, Souza said he has personally been involved in investigations where privately owned surveillance systems have been utilize by police and prosecutors to garner convictions.

He said the Fall River Safe View System will help prevent crime, identify suspects, provide evidence to prosecutors, assist police to maintain "good public order," assist emergency personnel and improve the environment in Fall River.

He also reiterated the system will not be used to invade privacy, record the interior of private premises or to intimidate any individual or group.

The first four cameras, Souza said, should be up and running in June, which is 15 months after the plan was initially announced by Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr.

A second phase of four additional cameras will also be installed later this year.

Souza said the first four cameras will be located at Griffin Park in Corky Row, at the corner of Wamsutta and Quequechan streets, at the future bus terminal location and outside the B.M.C. Durfee High School parking area on Elsbree Street.

The second phase of cameras will be installed at the corner of South Main and Morgan streets, near the Public Library on North Main Street, outside of Henry Lord Midddle School on Amity Street and at 87 William St. Canning Blvd. near the New Harbor Mall.

"We are very excited about this process getting under

way," Souza said. "Once we show some success, we will be in a good position to get federal Homeland Security funding to expand the project."

Those in attendance at the public forum included Mayoral candidates Eric M. Poulin, Alfredo Alves, Bradford L. Kilby and Kenneth Medeiros; City Councilors Ray Hague, Linda Pereira and Pat Casey; Mayor Lambert and City Council candidates Michael Miozza, Brian Dias and Ronald Cabral.