11/30/2006
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller, [317] 327-3690 |
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City begins installation of new, high-tech cameras aimed at fighting crime, protecting public
Indianapolis – The City of Indianapolis is installing high-tech public safety cameras aimed at fighting crime in neighborhoods and protecting public buildings, vital infrastructure and key assets.
Flanked by law enforcement and neighborhood leaders near the intersection of Michigan and Rural Streets, Mayor Bart Peterson and Sheriff Frank Anderson unveiled the first of more than 27 new security cameras, which will be installed in local neighborhoods and near critical infrastructure over the next three months. Along with being deterrents to street level crime, the security cameras will serve as a key component of the city’s homeland security efforts.
Once the hardware and software is fully installed, the cameras will become key tools for local law enforcement, who will have the capability to control the devices remotely from their in-car computers. The cameras, which are bulletproof and have a 360 degree range of motion, are also equipped with on-board hard drives that record up to three days of digital footage and are capable of sending images to a central computer at police headquarters.
“We have added more officers to the street and continue to perform saturation patrols in high-crime areas,” Mayor Peterson said. “These state-of-the-art cameras will complement those additional resources, increase police presence and help further protect our neighborhoods.”
Nearly a dozen of the new cameras will be mobile and used to target high crime areas. The ability to move the devices allows law enforcement the flexibility to react to crime trends and keep criminals guessing. At least fourteen cameras will be permanently installed throughout downtown and near other critical infrastructure and buildings.
The total cost of cameras is covered by a $1 million grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and $400,000 from city law enforcement forfeiture dollars, which is funded by money seized from criminals during drug raids and other illegal activities.
“These cameras have proven to be effective crime fighting tools in other cities,” Sheriff Frank Anderson said. “We believe this technology can have that same impact to protect our community.”
After installing similar camera technology, Chicago officials reported a 30 to 40 percent drop in overall in areas where cameras have been deployed, and a nearly 70 percent reduction in police runs in those areas.
Full installation of all 27 cameras is expected by early spring of next year. The city is looking in to purchasing additional software that will enable law enforcement to take advantage of additional features of the cameras, including gunshot detection that could notify police of a discharged firearm and facial recognition that could help identify known criminals.
Public Safety Camera Installation Locations
14 permanent installs (protecting critical infrastructure)
-Penn and Maryland (SW Corner)
-Delaware and Maryland (SW Corner)
-Penn and Georgia (SW Corner)
-Meridian and Georgia (NE Corner)
-Meridian and Jackson Place (N of Jackson, West side on Meridian)
-Illinois and Jackson Place (West side of Illinois at Jackson)
-Illinois and Georgia (NE corner)
-Capitol and Georgia (NE Corner)
-Capitol and Maryland (NW Corner)
-Maryland and Illinois (SE Corner)
-Capitol and Washington (NE Corner)
-Ohio and Illinois (NW Corner)
-Meridian and Ohio (NW Corner)
-[Location not disclosed due to Homeland Security]
13 mobile cameras for targeting crime hotspots (preliminary locations)*
- Capitol and 38th Street
- Capitol and 34th Street
- Rural and 10th Street
- Michigan Street and Rural
- Market Street and State Street
- Emerson Avenue and 38th Street
*Initial locations determined by crime data as of November 2006. Installation sites may change depending on crime trends.
Data still being compiled to determine locations of seven mobile cameras.
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