Blog Archives
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Open architecture key to public cameras
By PublicSafetyWatch blog - Tuesday March 31, 2009
Earlier this week we posted an update on the public camera system installed in the Northern California community of Richmond. Richmond is one of a long list of cities using cameras in the effort to help fight crime and keep its citizens safe. The system originally had 34 IP wireless cameras and has also already undergone two expansions. See the original news article here . The first expansion tapped into an existing camera system at a federally funded low-income housing development. The eight-camera system was granted to the Richmond city police department. Richmond PD can tap into it whenever it wants and, according to Deputy Police Chief Ed Medina, it has been a useful law enforcement tool. Video from that system recently helped... -
City Security Camera Update
By PublicSafetyWatch blog - Monday March 30, 2009
Cities across the country are tapping into the power of public safety cameras. The list of municipalities adding camera systems is growing every day with more and more cities joining the ranks. The Northern California City of Richmond recently completed the initial installation of 34 cameras in high crime areas throughout the city. You can see the original press release here . Checking in with Richmond Deputy Police Chief Ed Medina, he said that the system is up and working well, but it is too soon to tell how it has affected the crime rate. "We are still tweaking the system and making improvements," said Medina. "There have been some problems with fluctuation in the power supply from the utility company to the... -
Columbine Copycats
By PublicSafetyWatch blog - Wednesday March 25, 2009
Two teenagers were arrested this week and charged with planning to blow up a school and a shopping center. Their plan was to strike on April 20 -- the 10th anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High School outside Denver. There, in 1999, two Colorado teenagers killed 15 (including themselves) and injured 24 more students and teachers in a crime that forever changed the way we view school security. I anticipate that we currently have our own domestic copycats planning events for this grim anniversary and urge law enforcement, school officials, teachers, parents and students to be extra vigilant over the next three to four weeks. We need to do all that we can to keep our schools safe places where teachers can teach and... -
Selecting the Right Integrator
By PublicSafetyWatch blog - Monday March 23, 2009Selecting a Security Integrator Listening to police, along with water district, school and other security directors, there seems to be some common thoughts about how to best choose a security integrator for a new or upgraded project. Assuming your organization has some discretion and isn’t limited to selecting low-bid proposals, here are some tips for picking the best integrator for the job. Don’t be pressured to select your spouse’s cousin who owns a security company. Choose several integrators – ideally from word-of-mouth recommendations – and then ask for references from organizations similar in size and scope to your own. And don’t just accept the integrator’s list. Call the contacts and make... -
Expect the Worst -- Plan
By PublicSafetyWatch blog - Thursday March 19, 2009
The time to think about preparing an emergency plan is not in the middle of a crisis – a gunman on site, a natural disaster or one of many other possibilities. A good municipal facility or school security director should have a plan to help minimize injury, loss of life and property damage. To start your plan, create a task force with people from all departments. Choose leaders and assign tasks during the first meeting. Also, be sure to get full contact information for each group member. Then try to anticipate any and all emergencies that might occur. Walk around your facility and look for vulnerabilities. Talk to security and law enforcement professionals to gain their expertise. And don’t forget to talk to your employees and... -
The goals of PublicSafetyWatch
By PublicSafetyWatch blog - Tuesday March 17, 2009
This blog may be sponsored by ADT, but it is not about ADT. It’s about you. It’s about coming together as a group with shared interests and experiences to help each other do the job of helping to keep people safe. Safe in their communities, safe when they are on the way to work, safe in school, safe shopping and safe enjoying themselves at a public park or beach. Experts and professionals from a variety of organizations, agencies and businesses will be available to provide insights and information on public safety tools and solutions. We will have columnists who specialize in an array of areas including municipal security, school security and transportation. And we will have technology experts and industry leaders, who... -
Welcome to the new PublicSafetyWatch blog!
By PublicSafetyWatch blog - Tuesday March 17, 2009As editor of SecurityInfoWatch.com, I'm excited to announce our newest blog, PublicSafetyWatch. This blog, which we're authoring in partnership with ADT Security Services, is best described as being at "the intersection of security and public safety". We'll be addressing issues like municipal surveillance, school security, safety for public facilities and events, and all manner of other topics that city governments deal with on a regular basis. Our contributors for this blog will include ADT content experts on public safety, SecurityInfoWatch.com staff editors, and content experts from some of ADT's technology partners. Above all, this is a blog to help you -- whether you're a city administrator, a mayor, a police officer, a school...
