2011 Best In Enterprise-Wide Mobility Deployment

Note: This is a reprint of an article originally published by Mobile Enterprise on November 9, 2011.

WINNER
Wireless "Eye" Deters Crime
Let's Think Wireless wins 2011 Deployment of the Year for wireless camera network in Bethlehem, PA.

Pennsylvania's Bethlehem Police Department (BPD) is grappling with the same issues facing many public safety agencies: on-going crime, growing traffic and population--but a shrinking police force due to budgetary constraints. What's more, the city has improved its parks and other public infrastructure and wanted to protect its investments from vandalism.

The department sought a creative way to supplement the existing police force and enable "virtual feet on the street." It partnered with Let's Think Wireless, and utilized Firetide Wireless infrastructure mesh nodes, Object Video analytics software, Bosch 500 series pan-tilt-zoom cameras, and Genetec enterprise-level video management to create a robust wireless camera network.

Since deploying the network, the department reports increased situational awareness. The fixed-wireless system supports 50 video cameras that can be moved and repositioned as the city's public safety requirements evolve. Currently, more than 150 officers have access to the solution, with the technology to be available in all patrol vehicles eventually.

Now, dispatchers can not only communicate an event by radioing to the police vehicle responding, but can also notify personnel of the event in full detail prior to their arrival, with information such as where suspects are hiding and how to approach the incident--all of which improve officers' effectiveness and safety.

At first, officers were apprehensive about the presence of the cameras and skeptical of their value as a crime-fighting tool, according to Jason Schiffer, commissioner of the BPD. "Over time, though, they have embraced their presence and accepted them as a valuable resource that can make them safer and help to solve crimes," he adds.

"The cameras have added another layer of protection for our citizens and police officers," states Schiffer. "Our dispatchers have been able to observe crimes in progress and send police units to apprehend suspects before anyone has called the police." Overall, according to Schiffer, the wireless cameras "have become a force multiplier, enabling us to have a view of ongoing situations that we would not be able to have without them."

Crime has been reduced in all areas where the wireless surveillance system has been deployed, partly because of officers' ability to respond more quickly and efficiently, and partly because of the "word getting out" that areas are being monitored.

In the News is brought to you by Let's Think Wireless (LTW). A wholly owned subsidiary of WinMill Software, LTW is a wireless integration company providing high-speed wireless solutions for voice, video and data.