“We want to partner with integrators to bring solutions to end users, and GE is prepared to put all its considerable might behind this effort. We are just getting started.” Those comments, delivered via videotaped message from GE CEO Jeff Immelt, reflected the overall theme as the company held the 17th annual GE Security Customer Conference and Workshop June 7-10 at Hollywood, Fla.’s Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa.

The conference, which covers all aspects of commercial enterprise security, was originally instituted by Casi-Rusco, which GE acquired as part of Interlogix in 2002. Playing off the theme “Advancing Technology. Our Relationships. Your Business,” the 2004 event saw close to 1,000 integrators, end users and other attendees spending four days immersed in presentations, breakout sessions, training, exhibits and social gatherings.

Among the presentations, one of the most dramatic was when a captain from the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) infamous Rampart Division detailed the huge impact a seven-camera surveillance system donated by GE and installed by Hamilton Pacific has made in Macarthur Park. In just a few months’ time, the once pastoral community cen-terpiece that had deteriorated into a crime-ridden cesspool has begun a renaissance.

With the aid of the cameras, which are monitored by a single police officer, LAPD has been averaging 300 arrests in the park each month. The percentages of violent and nonviolent crime alike have dropped since the system was installed. The system uses microwave transmitters to send the images to a digital recorder. Criminal activities are burned onto watermarked CDs that are sent to both defending and prosecuting attorneys.

The system has been particularly valuable to LAPD because of the low ratio of police to civilians. “This system represents as big of a change and help to law enforcement as the radio was 50 years ago,” said Capt. Charles Beck, who added he looked forward to expanding the use of cameras and hoped to deploy facial recognition technology in the future.

In another presentation, illustrating the real-world convergence taking place in the corporate landscape, Bill Jacobs, senior manager of security, technology and systems for Cisco Systems Inc., discussed how his company has transitioned to digital video recording on his enterprise’s network. He said Cisco realized an annual return on investment of $10 million by using electronic security and centralizing management functions.

On both the product and the people sides of the equation, Jacobs cautioned that there is still much refinement left to accomplish in bringing IT and security together. “Systems still need more intelligence at the edge [peripheral devices],” he said, and added, “IT will not own security, but will be a major partner in it.”

Speaking of convergence, the trade press not only attended the GE Conference but also participated in a panel dialogue on that topic as well as technology and legislation. Security Sales & Integration Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine was among the six senior-most magazine editors who took part in the panel session.

“The recent pace with which our industry has been flooded with new technologies and products has outstripped our ability to absorb them,” said Goldfine. “Integrators are too busy running their businesses and have no margin for error because the products they install protect lives and assets. That’s why manufacturers must spoon rather than force-feed them. For their part, integrators must embrace IT and emphasize training.”

GE also presented its Integrator Awards to 17 companies during the conference, including Hamilton Pacific for its unique product application in the Macarthur Park project. Click here for the complete story.

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