1. EXTENDING THE VIDEO NETWORK: CAN YOU AFFORD EYES EVERYWHERE?
The Value of Video
We all see the direct results cameras have on fighting crime in the news. Whether it is daily
incidents or tragedies like the Boston bombings, cameras play an important role in fighting crime
and saving lives. However, deploying cameras and the required support systems can be costly
in cities both large and small. Some larger cities in the United States, for example, have been
able to deploy camera networks with the aid of funding from the federal government. These
camera systems are largely to protect homeland security targets and are not always in the
location needed to fight crime on a daily basis. Homeland security cameras may be placed near
financial districts, museums, high-end shopping areas, tourist destinations, hotels, etc. but it is
difficult to justify federal homeland security funds for cameras in a neighborhood known for
drugs and gang activity. Even large cities with access to federal dollars know that they need
cameras on the outskirts of the city.
Cost-Prohibitors to Getting It Done
Adding to the dilemma is the fact that when the camera network is stretched beyond the limits of
the downtown area, the more expensive it is to deploy the infrastructure. In a recent case study,
it was found that in order to build a camera network in one of the United States’ top five cities,
the cost on average is around $120,000 per camera. Installation of cameras in a city utilizing
city assets such as light poles, buildings, power, etc. is not an IT project as much as it is a
construction project requiring many resources. In most of these top tier cities, the sheer man-
power needed to install cameras is overwhelming when one considers support systems and the
infrastructure needed even just to run and connect power - all likely done by union labor, which
in and of itself can add many time and cost restrictions. There are many other regulations that
may add costs to installing a camera network, but the bottom line is that not too many cities can
afford to deploy thousands of cameras at $120k per camera.
It Takes a Community
We have heard countless times that police can’t fight crime alone. They need help from the
community they serve. Community “stakeholders” have a role they can play to support the
police effort. Most businesses and even residences today have installed security cameras to
deter would-be criminals and have used recorded video to help police hunt perpetrators. Having
thousands of these cameras all over the city has proven to help detectives solve crimes.
However, the problem with this scenario is the effort to review video after the event. Take this
example: “A guy with a gun walks in the convenience store, robs the store at gun point and flees
the scene. The owner of the store calls 9-1-1 and the police arrive on scene. The owner of the
store provides the police with a copy of the video and they take time try to identify the suspect.”
However, if you take the same scenario and allow the police to access the stores video live, the
story may play out a little differently. “A guy with a gun walks in the convenience store, robs the
store at gun point. The owner hits a silent alarm behind the counter and triggers a live video
feed on a dispatcher’s desk. The dispatcher then can see what is happening live on scene and
event stream that same video to the responding officer. The officer, before even getting to the
store, knows what the suspect looks like and what he is wearing. As he arrives, he sees the
suspect fleeing the scene. The store owner calls 9-1-1 and the dispatcher tells him that police
are outside his store with the suspect in custody. Please walk outside to positively identify
him?.” Wow! Real-time crime fighting that provides police officers with the information they
need to proactively respond and successfully serve.

2. Real-Time Crime Center Solutions
This scenario is possible today – and it is what Motorola Solutions describes as it’s vision at
APCO for technology solutions that center around a real-time crime center. The vision is simple
– the ability to leverage video, both within the community and the municipality, as a tool that
feeds dispatch to officers on the streets.
For more information on APCO or how Motorola Solutions is today providing Real-Time Crime
fighting solutions, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/rtcc.