Oct 17, 2014

One of the primary reasons for municipalities to install and leverage a wireless video surveillance system is to help fight and curtail crime. This is just what happened in Mission, Texas. The city saw success with their initial deployment of Firetide’s wireless infrastructure mesh infrastructure technology, and decided to expand the system two years after its installation.

Mission’s first deployment included six Firetide mesh nodes to establish a wireless mesh network operated over a fiber-based system. This enabled the Mission Police Department to have access to high-quality video feeds, as well as the ability to reposition the system’s cameras as needed. In addition, these capabilities were provided in a very cost-effective manner when compared with other surveillance options.

The city recently expanded this system to include 33 HotPort 7020 mesh nodes within the wireless network, as well as 23 fixed, point-tilt-zoom and thermal imaging cameras. The cameras themselves were situated in the highest crime areas of the city to ensure that police would have a round-the-clock view of these troubled regions. Cameras were also placed in parks and other populated, public areas for boosted safety.

The police department also established a specialized viewing station where the video feeds are sent. The station is accessible to watch commanders, officers and emergency dispatchers, enabling the feeds to be constantly monitored. In this way, if a criminal or emergency event takes place, responders can be quick to address the issue.

Because the feeds are also recorded, officials can utilize the videos to fight crime even after the fact. For instance, one case involved construction materials, including wood and copper, being stolen from a developing area of the town. With the help of the wireless surveillance system, officers were able to review the recordings and identify the suspect.

“The wireless system gives us coverage and clear visual access to areas that don’t have continuous police presence,” noted Mission Chief of Police Marin Garza Jr. “Additionally, it greatly improves police and emergency personnel response times to incidents occurring in these locations.”