Memphis College Reports Drastic Drop in Crime with CCTV System

Southwest Tennessee Community College has greatly improved their control over security matters using an IP video surveillance system based on XProtect software from Milestone Systems, installed by Dynamark Security in the summer of 2004. The result is a drastic drop in crime and other security incidences on campus.

Campus crime is a major detriment to the educational environment for students, teachers and administrators alike in terms of personal safety and the drained resources that ultimately detract from the educational budget. Southwest Tennessee Community College had its share of such challenges, especially with its major metropolitan location: destruction of property through vandalism and gang graffiti, false fire alarms, disorderly conduct, theft from the buildings and auto theft, stolen books and computers, and community vagrants. Dynamark Security designed and installed a video surveillance system utilizing Milestone XProtect IP video surveillance software that manages 105 cameras including SONY Pan/Tilt/Zoom and Panasonic models. 87 more cameras will be added at another location, and new campus sites are planned for further expansion. Chief Leo F. Brown, Sr. and his campus police force are extremely pleased with the superb overview and control of campus activity the new surveillance system provides. He can also access it remotely via the web if he needs to check something at night or on weekends. The images are clear and the evidence has cleared up any situations that arise. The results: drastically reduced crime, improved safety for faculty, staff, students and property, more efficient use of police resources, faster response to incidences, plus better monitoring of Occupational Health and Safety issues. The school currently has a total of 14,000 students in 7 campuses throughout Memphis. Over 3,500 of them are foreign students. One of the school locations is integrated with a high school that has over 300 students - and the younger students are responsible for more vandalism than the older ones. The school also experiences some criminal elements coming in from outside the school. No matter whether the security problems are internal or external, Chief Brown's police force has total control and fast response with their Milestone XProtect IP video surveillance. "I couldn't put a price tag on this system - it's just invaluable to us in our work to serve and protect our campus," states Chief Leo F. Brown, Sr., Chief of Police at Southwest Tennessee Community College.