SW24, Newark PD Partner to Combat Crime ‘At No Taxpayer Expense’
NEW YORK — The Newark (N.J.) Police Department and SecureWatch 24 (SW24), a provider of installation, guard and other security services, announced a partnership to combat crime by allowing the police access to SW24 customer video recordings.
The collaboration is thought to be the first of its kind in New Jersey, according to a joint statement by the security firm and the Newark PD. The agreement allows the Newark PD to access local SW24 customer video records upon request in order to aid criminal investigations. Local SW24 customers will agree in advance to allow such access.
There are currently several dozen SW24 customers in the Newark area with a combined total of more than 300 cameras in various locations. The company is already obtaining permissions from its customers as part of the effort. SW24 maintains a video management network of more than 22,000 cameras throughout New York City and New Jersey.
“As far as we know this agreement between a public law enforcement entity and a private security company is unprecedented in New Jersey. It shows how forward-thinking the Newark Police Department is,” says Desmond Smyth, SW24 president. “Our local customers will agree to make their videos available to the police; thereby, giving the police access to over 300 cameras without the need for taxpayers to pay a nickel. Our network of cameras is a force multiplier for the 2,000 men and women of the Newark Police Department.”
Smyth said a video terminal eventually could be installed by SW24 in the city’s Rapid Transit Operations Center to allow trained personnel to monitor real-time video surveillance with prior customer permission.
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