COLUMBUS (Brooks Jarosz) – A federal bribery investigation involving Columbus officials has ABC 6 Investigators digging, and new emails show your safety was not the only focus of the city’s photo red light camera program.

A long trail exposes the ways the city planned to increase cash flow. The cameras may be banned and bagged now, but inside the public safety building are boxes and binders of evidence dating back 14 years. They show the city’s red light program had trouble getting off the ground.

In 2001, a police lieutenant with the traffic division expressed his concern saying red light cameras would increase ill feelings in the community and appear only as a way to make some fast cash. Even former Chief James Jackson opposed the idea, fearful of negative publicity.

The tone was much different in 2003, however. Lieutenant Jeffrey Blackwell led the photo red light committee, boasting Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s office is behind the initiative 100 percent. By 2004, city officials were on board.

The committee reviewed vendors and ultimately chose Redflex. One member commented on the integrity of the company and record of renewed contracts in other cities.

In 2005, Redflex lobbyist John Raphael helped the city fight a bill aimed at banning red light cameras in the state. By early 2006, the first red light camera was operational.

However, the city didn’t stop there, considering railroad crossings for more cameras, despite fatalities being low and only an anticipated one or two violations a day. The idea didn’t go anywhere, but there was lots of talk about money.

In 2008, the city wanted to double its 20 intersections with Redflex cameras to bring in an estimated $2M, according to a city memo. Columbus planned to use that money to buy things like new police cruisers.

IN 2009, state Senator Bill Seitz was ticked by a red light camera and fought it saying it was about money, not safety. That started a state push to get the cameras banned for good.

In 2013, Redflex was doing damage control after a federal bribery and fraud scandal in Chicago. A letter from Redflex to the deputy public safety director explained Redflex fired four high-ranking employees including former CEO Karen Finley. Finley pleaded guilty to bribing several Columbus officials and funneled money to politicians through Redflex lobbyist, John Raphael.

ABC 6 Investigators are told this federal bribery investigation has been going on in Columbus for more than a year. Beyond Finley, no other charges or indictments yet.