Fresno Police Department Has Begun Major Surveillance Project

Security Sales & Integration
May. 31, 2006

The Fresno Police Department (FPD) has begun the installation of state-of-the-art, high-resolution cameras at several locations. Plans are to increase video surveillance in the community with at least 256 cameras, all fed into a central downtown location. A large part of the funding for this project will come from a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

FPD isn’t planning to have people watch over the video monitors on a regular basis. Instead, cameras can be put on alert, for example by a 911 call. Once on alert, the signal from that camera will be sent directly to squad cars in the crime scene area. Officers can use the camera to zoom in and out in order to see things better. This will enable the officers to see everything that takes place on the camera in real-time. At the same time, the entire incident will be recorded on a hard drive that stores the information at police headquarters.

FPD’s plan is to purchase a system called Endura, manufactured by Pelco. The first Endura system installed in the United States was placed in New York City. If FPD purchases it, the city will be the second to do so. The system is able to network hundreds of analog cameras, convert analog video to digital and store the data for future use.

FPD is experiencing opposition to this plan, however. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is opposed to video surveillance. It is the ACLU’s position that it has no place in our society.

A report released by the Constitution Project says that “Cameras could routinely capture footage of individuals engaging in activities in which most expect anonymity, such as entering an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Cameras might capture things most people would seek to keep private, such as the label on a vial purchased at a drug store.”

FPD has begun without a community dialogue about the need for the equipment or a discussion about alternatives that might be available. Phase one of the project is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.