Woe And Wonder: Surveillance Cameras Were The Key In Boston

It’s been an extraordinary week of fast-moving events — a week of tragedy, tears, anger and fear. Yet the bombs that on Monday shattered the joyful celebration of a storied event, the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring nearly 200, never blew a hole in the social fabric.  Too many helping hands — heroic first responders, brave ordinary citizens — stood ready to hold it together.

Then swiftly followed brilliant police work by the FBI, and other law-enforcement agencies aided immeasurably by the tools of the modern age — surveillance cameras in public spaces and video and photos shot on cell phones and digital devices in the hands of spectators. Those images proved decisive.

By late Thursday, after the FBI released video and photos, the tips were pouring in and the suspects — Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother Dzhokhar, 19 — were on the run.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/editorials/woe-and-wonder-surveillance-cameras-were-the-key-in-boston-684246/#ixzz2R17HeZSf

Next Generation Of Reading Police Cameras Keeping Watch

Security camera at London (Heathrow) Airport. Taken by Adrian Pingstone in August 2004 and released to the public domain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Pottstown needs to get cameras! There are grants out there!

Criminals, beware, for Big Brother is getting more eyes to see you.

And remember you.

Reading’s next round of 20 security cameras is being installed in new neighborhoods, augmenting the 27 cameras in the downtown network since 2008.

“We’ve been pretty successful with them,” Police Chief William M. Heim said, noting there have been dozens of cases in which the existing cameras have been helpful in solving crimes and arresting suspects.

In March, City Council awarded a $650,000 camera contract to New York-based Let’s Think Wireless, with money from the same 2007 federal grant of $1.7 million that bought the first round from the same company.

Read more:   http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=451985

Allentown Woman Punches LANTA Bus Driver Over Fare, Police Say

Image via Wikipedia

Editor’s note:  What a class act.  Evidently somebody needs an anger management course.

A LANTA bus driver who challenged a passenger’s claim to a student discount was slugged by the passenger as the vehicle moved from an Allentown bus stop, police said.

Daquasia Kim Ransome, 18, of 513 N. Silk St., Allentown, was arrested Friday after city police used bus surveillance video from the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority to determine who attacked the driver two weeks ago.

Ransome got on the bus 3:08 p.m. Feb. 27 at Hamilton and Seventh streets, and handed the $1 student rate – half the regular fare – to driver Barbara Rosamilia, police said. An argument began when Rosamilia asked which school Ransome goes to, police said.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-lanta-bus-driver-attacked-in-allentown-20120312,0,2717958.story

Pittsburgh And Its Suburbs Having Success With Surveillance Cameras

Image via Wikipedia

The City of Pittsburgh and some adjacent suburbs are successfully using surveillance cameras to deter and solve crime. 

Pittsburgh has surveillance cameras in place downtown and in various neighborhoods throughout the city.  According to their 2009 Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Police, Annual Report, there are 120 cameras throughout the city they hope to tie-in to a wireless platform at the Emergency Operations Center and other key locations for constant monitoring of video and data transmissions. 

Another goal is to have at least 32 cameras on 16 bridges.  The mayor also wants to install gunshot locator and detection cameras in high-risk neighborhoods. (I believe Harrisburg uses these.)

Pittsburgh is adding 28 more cameras, using a $3 million grant along with 25 percent matching funds from the city, as part of the Pittsburgh Initiative to Reduce Crime program.  Pittsburgh’s ultimate goal is a city-wide camera system, which includes the Port of Pittsburgh (the second largest inland port in the U.S.)

Surveillance cameras will be added in suburban Swissvale, prompted by a rash of crime in Regent Square.  Three cameras will be installed along Braddock Avenue within two months.  Ten to twelve more cameras will be added at other locations in the borough.  Each camera costs $9,000, which includes installation, but there are grants available for municipalities to buy surveillance cameras.

Other communities with surveillance cameras include Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall.

Under Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh has experienced three consecutive years of historic-crime-lows, according to the city’s website.  According to our friends at City-data.com, Pittsburgh’s crime index has dropped from 558.3 in 2007 to 474.8 in 2009 (Pottstown’s 2009 crime index was 454.7 if you live locally). Murders dropped from 72 in 2008 to 39 in 2009.  Most crime categories showed drops between 2008 and 2009.  2010 crime data is not available at this time.

HINT: If the inexpensive crime tracking software Scranton purchased was used to determine surveillance camera placement that would seem to be an ideal crime fighting tool for Pottstown’s core neighborhood!  Just sayin’….

Reading Woman Falls Into Fountain At Berkshire Mall While Walking And Texting

You have to love this stuff folks. 

A Reading woman was strolling through Berkshire Mall and texting on her cell phone at the same time.  You know what they say about walking and chewing gum…so I suppose texting and walking is about the same.  When we are not paying attention to what we are doing, accidents happen.  Consequently, the woman fell into a fountain at Berkshire Mall in Reading. 

Now, she is angry that the security footage was released.  The “victim” has hired a lawyer and is contemplating a lawsuit against Berkshire Mall.  She thinks mall security should have been more concerned about her welfare.  However, she immediately got up and walked away, apparently unharmed.

The reason people know her identity is because she released her own name to the public.  Her face was digitally covered in the video footage.

OH PLEASE!  Does somebody want their 15 minutes here or what?

UPDATE – this just keeps getting better.  Read all about the “faller” in this Reading Eagle article http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=280672

Harrisburg Mulls Surveillance Camera Installation In High Crime Areas

Mayor Linda Thompson stated one of her goals for 2011 is to have surveillance cameras installed throughout the city.  Public grants can be used to fund this project.

South Allison Hill and parts of Uptown and Downtown Harrisburg are being targeted as the most likely places to have cameras installed.  These areas experience high crime and surveillance cameras would act as a deterrent as well as provide police with evidence.

Wilkes-Barre has installed 230 cameras in various sites around the city.  They used $3 million in state funds from the Department of Community and Economic Development.  In Wilkes-Barre’s case, the cameras have not been a deterrent; however, the footage has helped police solve more crimes.  Wilkes-Barre has only experienced very minor equipment malfunctions.  Police officers rotate on camera duty.  The footage is monitored 24/7!

Larger Scranton has only installed 12 cameras (obviously not nearly enough).  The say the cameras malfunction often and are down sometimes for two weeks at a time.  Scranton obtained a grant for $200,000 to pay for their project.  Unlike Wilkes-Barre, the camera monitor is put behind the front desk.  The officer on duty is constantly being distracted with other work so footage is only monitored “as time permits”.  (See Wilkes-Barre model, Scranton PD)

And then there is progressive Lancaster!  Lancaster has had cameras installed since early in the last decade.  There are 165 cameras monitored by the Safety Coalition.  The Safety Coalition is a nonprofit volunteer organization.

During a six-month period is 2009, surveillance footage assisted in 51 arrests.  Police requested footage for 166 cases.  The Lancaster police love cameras!  Public and private grants fund the camera system.  Delegations from Baltimore, New York and Warren, OH have paid a visit to Lancaster to learn how their system works.  An interesting story is told of a man who was found dead on a sidewalk in Lancaster.  Police reviewed the surveillance footage and watched the man trip and fall.  He was not the victim of a crime.  Think of the cost savings to city residents by not having detectives investigate a simple slip and fall as a possible homicide!!

Carlisle is spending $270,000 in federal grants to install 15 cameras in their downtown area.

Harrisburg does have “some” surveillance cameras already in place.  Harrisburg Police and the Dauphin County District Attorney feel more cameras would be helpful.  Residents of Allison Hill and Uptown reacted favorably to surveillance cameras hoping they will reduce crime in the neighborhood.  Neighbors said the idea makes them feel safer and more protected.

We think these cameras are a great idea.  Personally, I would love to see them in Pottstown!  Remember, grants can pay for these projects.  No taxpayer cost involved.