LEIM 36th Annual IACP: Baltimore Police Department Incorporating Video Technology to Reduce Violence
This is one presentation I definitely wanted to attend at LEIM. Yes, the real Police of Baltimore were here. Not McNulty and his gang from The Wire, but Deputy Commissioner John Skinner and members of the Baltimore Police Force came to discuss how they are combating violence in Baltimore using video technology.
Deputy Skinner opened up the presentation to tell us that quite a few years ago, Baltimore was America’s Murder capital. In 1995, there was an estimated 1 homicide per day in Baltimore. By 2011 this was down to 197 in a year. Since 2007 they have achieved a 35% reduction in non-fatal shootings and juvenile homicides have decreased since 2008. By using technology, Baltimore Police have achieved historical lows in violent crime, whilst reducing budgets they have redirected the resources they have at the Police Department.
Gayle Guilford, Systems Director for Baltimore PD explained the Side Partner Project. This initiative came out in 2009. The aim was to ‘get Police out of their cars and back into the community’. Gayle spoke about years ago, when Officers would ‘walk the beat’, and be an integral part of the community. They knew people by name, and would walk around the neighborhoods, speaking to people and generally being involved in the daily life around them. This was comforting for people, and they trusted their Police.
Since taking police of the streets and into patrol cars, citizens have become distanced from the police and possibly lost the trust that was once had. To combat this and to get the Police back onto the streets, Blackberry phones with a “Pocket Cop” application were handed out to the Officers. With the phone in their hand, they can carry out checks on warrants, driving records and photographs. It also tells them who they should be looking out for, and what their daily priorities are.
The system also allows Officers to start taking evidence such as photos and streaming video before the forensic teams arrive. This is very useful in domestic violence situations. They can immediately upload evidence and get information out to other officers who can assist if they are nearby, if they have to look for a suspect, they will have a photograph to help them.
The application is also wired up to GPS and Google maps. This can tell Police dispatchers where officers are located and their availability to respond to a situation. Gayle hopes that future budgets will allow that every Police Officer will have a blackberry in the next few years.
Next to speak was Lt. Hood, Director of Law Enforcement Operation for CitiWatch in Baltimore PD. Lt. Hood is one of those types of people that are immediately likeable, and when he began his presentation on CCTV, I was enthralled.
The CitiWatch program is one of America’s most sophisticated surveillance networks in operation. It started off with 50 cameras and now has over 500 across Baltimore City. The cameras are monitored by the Criminal Intelligence Watch Center inside the Baltimore PD, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by specially trained CCTV operators, mainly retired Police Officers.
Extra staff are used at weekends to monitor the busiest times, especially at night. Lt Hood likes using retired Police as they have the knowledge and are also trained on a variety of subjects including radio communications and uniform crime reporting.
CitiWatch cameras records footage, which is stored for 28 days and then archived off site. Video footage is crucial in identifying suspects and capturing evidence in many crimes. Lt Hood then proceeded to show us some footage, in which the Police were able to make subsequent arrests and help also to prevent certain criminal acts.
In many instances where a crime was being committed, it was monitored by staff, and Police were alerted to see who was the nearest to where the crime was taking place. They could then go to the scene and take control of the situation.
Many would feel that we have reached the ‘Big Brother is watching you’ stage considering how many cities around the world are using camera technology, but in reality those cameras are not there to spy on the public, but instead are there to help us and keep us safe by watching out for the bad guys.
Lt. Hood and his team proved this. I spend a lot of time in Baltimore, and I am happy that Lt. Hood is watching out for us, and I for one walked away from that presentation feeling a little bit safer.
For more information and to find out more about Baltimore Police check out:
Till next time…
r/Mary