TITLE: Birmingham Police working to get new technology to keep communities safe
Key Points:
- A committee has approved three new mobile units that will be partnered with the Birmingham Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center.
- The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has successfully used cameras for years, and the city of Birmingham wants to implement the same technology.
- The cameras can be deployed anywhere at any time and provide a complete view of the area.
- The units will stream video back to the real-time crime center.
Birmingham Police are making efforts to enhance community safety by implementing new technology. A committee recently approved three new mobile units that will work in partnership with the Birmingham Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center. This move follows the success of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, which has been using cameras for various events and in high-crime areas.
The cameras have proven to be effective tools in combating crime, and the city of Birmingham wants to utilize them for the same reasons. Councilor Hunter Williams explained that the cameras are used by the sheriff’s department to send video back to their Metro Area Crime Center. This provides additional surveillance when deputies are away. The Birmingham Police Department plans to adopt a similar method to enhance their crime-fighting capabilities.
Chief Scott Thurmond expressed his admiration for the county’s success in combating crime with this state-of-the-art technology. He believes it is time for the Birmingham Police Department to implement the same technology. The mobile units, equipped with solar camera systems and additional cutting-edge technology, can be deployed to any area where criminal activity is prevalent or when extra surveillance is needed for events. This will provide officers with a complete view of what is happening in a specific location without the need for physical presence.
Chief Thurmond emphasized that the units can stream video back to the real-time crime center, which is expected to be manned 24 hours a day in the near future. This will further enhance the department’s ability to monitor and respond to criminal activity. The proposal for implementing this new technology now moves to the city council for approval.
In conclusion, the Birmingham Police Department is working towards improving community safety by introducing new technology. The mobile units, equipped with cameras and advanced technology, will provide real-time surveillance and a complete view of areas with high crime rates. By streamlining video back to the real-time crime center, the department aims to enhance its crime-fighting capabilities. This move follows the success of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, which has used similar technology for years. The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the city council.