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LA County Sheriff's Department Makes Streets Safer "Digital Eyes"

By Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributing Editor

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, as part of its Advanced Surveillance and Protection Plan (ASAP), has deployed a wireless video surveillance network enabled by Firetide (News - Alert), a developer of wireless mesh and access networks.

 

The “digital eyes” are now protecting citizens on the streets of Lynwood, California and the surrounding unincorporated areas. Deputies have already made several arrests as a direct result of this surveillance, including one when a drug deal was seen in progress in the park next to a neighborhood school.

 

“Our residents deserve the best law enforcement officers and the most advanced tools to fight crime and strengthen public safety,” said Sheriff Leroy Baca of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, in a statement.

 

“The Century ASAP program seeks to augment the dramatic crime reduction already made possible through the dedication and hard work of the men and women of Century Sheriff’s Station and the Gang Violence Task Force,” Sheriff Baca added.

 

Video cameras have been deployed at key intersections, near schools, and near two hospitals. The broadcast-quality (30 frames per second) video is transported in real-time over the Firetide wireless mesh network directly to the integrated video and 9-1-1 dispatch command center, where watch deputies guide teams on the ground as they respond to calls for service.

 

Fifteen deputies have already been trained in the use of the new video surveillance system, which allows them to control the cameras and pan, tilt and zoom into images, track suspects, and assess situations as reports of crimes in progress come in.

 

 “Wireless video surveillance is changing the way we serve and protect the community,” said Captain James Hellmold of Los Angeles County Century Sheriff's Station.

 

“It is a very effective force multiplier and officer safety tool. The quality of video is truly evidence-grade, which will serve us well not only to deter crime, but to help our district attorneys prosecute crime,” added Captain Hellmold.

 

The surveillance system delivers evidence-grade video feeds into the station’s new command center, allowing watch deputies to coordinate in real time with officers in the field. ASAP technologies also include acoustic gunshot detection and automatic license plate recognition.

 

ASAP serves to expand the use of advanced technologies in the field, strengthen criminal prosecution with video evidence, and provide real-time intelligence to improve officer safety. 

“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is a forward-thinking public safety agency focused on using the best technology to support first responders and protect the public,” said Bo Larsson, chief executive officer of Firetide.

 

“We are pleased to partner with the Safe Cities Foundation to deliver the most advanced technology to Century Station, as the department evaluates tools and capabilities to better serve its communities,” Larsson stated.

 

Firetide is a provider of wireless mesh and access networks that enable concurrent video, voice, and data for municipal, public safety, and enterprise applications. Firetide HotPort mesh nodes and HotPoint access points provide a reliable high performance wireless infrastructure and access solution for video surveillance, Internet access, public safety networks and temporary networks wherever rapid deployment, mobility and ease of installation are required.

 

Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page.