News Releases

Vendors of Video Surveillance Systems to Help Expand MPD Project Shield

Feb 18th, 2016

MPD Cyber Intelligence Unit held a summit yesterday for surveillance video system vendors interested in supporting Project Shield. The vendors of such systems will serve as liaisons to assist with the expansion of Project Shield by promoting the benefits of joining the city's safety net to their clients.

When more businesses, more citizens and law enforcement connect, Project Shield better accomplishes the bigger goal — to combat suspicious and criminal activity. The Cyber Intelligence Unit provided the vendors with information on how the setup works.

It's a simple three-part process, according to Commander Kevin Levy of the Cyber Intelligence Unit. The first step is meeting the client, and secondly, obtaining access to their existing surveillance system. Lastly, a situational awareness and terrorism-prevention training session is provided and the building of an ongoing relationship with the client begins.

Several of the vendors indicated that the stigma of ‘big brother watching' would be a concern for some of their business clients. Currently, Project Shield has 3,600 camera feeds. Although MPD has access to those feeds 24/7, those feeds are not monitored 24/7.

"The camera feeds are used only for law enforcement necessity," says Levy. "They allow police to have a better response to crime in action, a thorough investigation, and the ability to capture the best evidence."

It's the client who determines which video surveillance cameras are accessible to police. Some may only choose to give access to their external cameras and even that could develop a perimeter to a public street.

Years ago the policy and procedure push was for companies to have disaster response plans for fire, hurricanes and tornadoes, and to drill them throughout the year. Of course, those plans are still of high importance.

But nowadays companies must also be prepared for what to do in the event of an active shooter or terrorist attack. If more companies include Project Shield in their response plans that would help keep the city safer.

For more information on Project Shield partnership, call 251-208-1819 or email ciu@cityofmobile.org.

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Charlette Solis
Mobile Police Department
Public Affairs Officer
251-208-1918