HomeMy WebLinkAbout(4) SURVEILLANCE CAMERASM&MORANDIIM
POLICE DEPARTMENT
PORT ARTHUR
" TO: Steve Fitzgibbons, City Manager DATE: February 6, 2009
FROM: Mark Blanton, Chief of Police
[x] For your information [ ] Please take appropriate~actioh
[ ] For comment 6 recommendation ,[ ] Please prepare draft for my reply
[ ] File for future reference [ ] Please reply on my behalf
[ ] Please .discuss with me [ ] Please return '
Report on Surveillance Cameras
The Police Department has ordered three Stealth Cameras as part of a pilot program to
investigate and prosecute graffiN.and illegal dumping in the City.
The cameras take both still photographs and-video clips and are motion activated. These
cameras utilize infrared thus creating no flash to give away their presence as the old
cameras did. By not giving away their presence there is a greatly likelihood they won't be
stolen or destroyed as they older ones were prevalent to be.' These cameras are portable
and can be moved at will. They have a battery power supply and. thus can be placed in
remote locations that do not have a readily available source of power as the older cameras
required.
This will enable us to place them in locations not feasible previously as :many locations of
dumping and graffiti did not have readily accessible public power available.
These cameras should be delivered early next week and deployed the day they arrive.
If these cameras prove successful, as I believe they will be more can be ordered. These
cameras are relatively inexpensive costing $199.00 each. After an evaluation period of 30
days, it would be possible to purchase 35 additional cameras for a total cost of $6,965 plus
shipping. This would provide a much greater area of coverage when previously we have
purchase cameras for as much as $5000 that. were not portable, needed a constant power
supply and gave away their presence by visible flash.
I will have a similar camera available for the City Council to examine in private if they so
wish.
I believe these cameras will prove to be a valuable tool fo combat illegal dumping and
graffiti. ,
As you and I have discussed, if a large amount of cameras are deployed, it would be
necessary to have someone assigned to check each location and remove the storage disc
from each camera and replace it with another. This could be a full time job in itself if 35
cameras are deployed.
I have spoken with Dr. Thigpen and he will hire a temporary NEG employee to handle this
task. The storage disks could then be turned over to an•officer for examination and
possible prosecution.
Please advise should you .need. further information.
Mark Blanton
Chief of Police