Muni Wireless Video Surveillance at Work in Orlando

Downtown Crime Cameras Help Police Catch Assailants

View video: Downtown Crime Cameras Help Police Catch Assailants

Watch the video of an unfolding incident, as a passer-by is assaulted in an underpass parking lot. A light-duty officer watching the cameras from police headquarters spots the beat-down in progress, zooms onto the license plate of the attackers’ SUV, and calls in police reinforcement that promptly arrest the assailants as their car is leaving the parking lot. He also summons an ambulance for the victim.

I loved the ‘vox poluli’ moment:

“Watching the crime on video, several downtown patrons said they credit the cameras for crime fighting. “They can take that out of my taxes,” said Kristian Cody, of Orlando. “That might benefit me one day. I agree with that. That is awesome.”

Firetide mesh had been in use by the Orlando PD since about 2007, first by their tactical team (special events, SWAT operations), and then in a fixed “crime camera” installation throughout downtown Orlando. In the clip, you can see the back of the Firetide 6000 series mesh node (shown at left) against voice over of “Cameras can be a deterrent.”

Watch the video at Orlando’s Channel 2

Capturing Violent Crime on Camera Not the Only Reason for City Surveillance

These are the types of incidents that capture the public’s imagination. However, its also important to consider that there are a lot of mundane incidents captured on these cameras, that do not make it in the news: loitering, car break-ins, drug deals. The camera’s ability to deter crime is sometimes questioned, but the surveillance systems’ role in incident investigations cannot be disputed. This results in shorter investigation times, faster arrests, and fewer court costs. Watch Aug 3, 2010 TV clip New Cameras to Watch for [Orlando's] MetroWest Crime to see assaults and drug deals captured on the Orlando PD’s security cameras.

See also:

• 2009 announcement: Wireless Surveillance Proves Security Force Multiplier on Presidential Campaign Trail (including Obama-Clinton rally in Orlando)
• 2008 announcement: Orlando Police Department Secures Auto Race with Wireless Video Surveillance

Related blog posts:

• Cal State Long Beach Wireless Video Surveillance – One Year Later
• Public Video Surveillance and Mainstream Media
• How to Report the News – About Crime Cameras, or Virtually Anything