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Video Surveillance Foundation of RTD Security System By Adam Schrager 7/8/05 |
DENVER - As London authorities look at videotape from thousands of cameras placed all over the city in an effort to determine who placed bombs, which killed dozens of Brits Thursday, officials in Denver continued plans to beef up their
video surveillance system.
Already, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) has hundreds of cameras on line, being monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the transportation district plans to add hundreds more by the end of next year.
"We have seen a 60% decline in (criminal) incidents at our Park and Rides and our light rail stations since we've put this
enhanced video surveillance into play," said RTD Spokeswoman Pauletta Puncerelli. "When we're able to monitor live cameras and see things as they're happening, that has a huge impact on our ability to have a very
valuable security system."
The
surveillance system is located in a 30x15 room in a non-descript building in the metro area. However, the images beamed into the command center are extremely descriptive. The cameras have powerful enough technology to read newspapers over riders' shoulders and pick out vehicle identification (VIN) numbers through windshields.
The $5 million investment in the cameras and technology came before 9/11. Security officials continue to spend federal homeland security grants bolstering the system. All light rail trains have security cameras as well as more than half of the bus fleet.
In light of the London attacks, RTD has enhanced its security in a number of ways, including adding more security officers and
video surveillance, as well as other subtle forms.
At the Auraria light rail station, regular RTD rider Randy Wingate was not worried about any potential invasion of privacy. He says if it makes people feel safer, RTD should spend even more on
video surveillance. Source: 9news.com |
