Mar 11, 2015

Law enforcement agencies across the country have been bolstering their abilities through the use of video surveillance, and the Joliet Police Department recently joined these ranks. After determining that they needed a better way to prevent crime while reducing the needed overhead management, authorities decided to adopt a wireless video surveillance system.

Before the upgrade, the department did have another, more outdated video surveillance system in place. However, this technology provided more challenges than benefits, and took a considerable amount of time and effort just to manage. With the legacy video system, recordings were stored on VHS tapes which required organizing and archiving in order for them to be usable.

“We could only view real-time video from one console in the station, and exporting archived video was a complex process,” said Jeremy DeVivo, Joliet Police Department network administrator.

In order to improve their video monitoring abilities and enhance the protection they provide for the city’s 152,000 residents, the department decided to upgrade its video surveillance system. Administrators chose a wireless video surveillance system that included wireless cameras and a central management system. The new solution enabled authorized staff members to access real-time and archived videos recorded by camera located across the city from their homes or their squad cars. The new solution also enabled the department to take advantage of their existing analog video surveillance cameras, as these could be integrated into the system.

Federal grant provides financial support

The department was able to financially support its wireless surveillance initiative through a four-to-one matching grant from the federal government, bringing the total budget for the project to more than $730,000.

“In our grant application, we proposed using IP-based video surveillance for real-time monitoring and visibility into the riverfront area, and to provide access to the video feds to other government agencies and businesses,” DeVivo noted.

The benefits of video surveillance: Suspect in custody

At the beginning of the year, the city saw the benefits of video surveillance, as a recorded video feed was used as part of an investigation into the shooting death of a local store clerk, reported ABC News. The clerk was shot and killed during an attempted robbery by several individuals dressed in black.

Although the perpetrators wore masks, police were able to apprehend one of the two suspects participating in the robbery.

As more law enforcement groups seek to implement wireless surveillance technology, they must ensure that they are selecting the best technology for the needs of their department and the individuals they protect. An industry-leading wireless surveillance system from Firetide can ensure that authorities have all the tools they need to keep people safe. To find out more, contactFiretide today.