The Metro Nashville Police Department ‘s Central Precinct is seeking an upgrade for its 30-camera surveillance system, which watches over high-crime areas.
The police officials would like to implement a more high-tech system that would allow the cameras to link to a centralized location where personnel could monitor video feeds in real time, according to The City Paper.
Presently, officers review video footage as needed by parking near the cameras and linking to them wirelessly. If a more serious crime is captured on camera, detectives ask that the hard drive of the camera be pulled right away and preserved for evidence.
The cameras are susceptible to power outages, and some of the old cameras’ DVR systems don’t reset properly after power is restored, according to the newspaper. Officers check the cameras every week or two to make sure they are working properly. To determine if a camera is up and recording, an officer must come within view of it and execute the wireless link.
Despite its camera shortcomings, Central Precinct officials say its crime numbers dropped 17 percent last year, which led Mayor Karl Dean to recognize it as “Precinct of the Year” at a recent ceremony.
“We’re stomping big numbers,” Central Precinct Cmdr. Damian Huggins told the newspaper. “It’s because we’re paying attention to things, but it’s also because we’re saying, ‘Hey, how are we going to get better tomorrow?’
