Boston law enforcement officials are gearing up the city
for the upcoming Democratic National Convention with
extensive video surveillance. Thirty cameras are set to be
installed near the Fleet Center, the Coast Guard will use
infrared technology and night-vision cameras to monitor the
harbor and other pieces of surveillance equipment will
watch for terrorists, street crime and raucous protesters
via the sides of downtown buildings, The Boston
Globe reports.
In addition, 75 federal government-operated cameras will be
linked to a surveillance network to guard the Central
Artery, City Hall Plaza and the Fleet Center. The Coast
Guard’s extensive system will use infrared imaging, radar
and CCTV cameras to achieve a real-time image of the
harbor.
A number of state police cameras will be installed in
addition to the city’s existing 100 Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority (MBTA) cameras, which will monitor
subway and bus stations. In total, law enforcement will
have access to 900 cameras, The Globe reports.
Once the convention is over, police will retain use of the
30 cameras installed for the convention throughout the
city.
According to the paper, the increased surveillance as well
as an estimated 3,000 local, state and federal law
enforcement officers set to monitor the event come as part
of a $50 million effort to secure the first national
political convention since 9/11.
