The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is seeking public support for a new high-tech, camera-based crime system.
On Wednesday, Aug. 25, the department sent out a press release explaining to media and the public why that is.
Though at this point the department isn’t giving a price tag for the desired “Real Time Crime Center,” Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers and top department staff say the center would benefit the citizens by speeding up law enforcement reaction times.
A Real Time Crime Center can be thought of as a central hub of video feeds and other intelligence – like the high-tech rooms one sees in movies based on Tom Clancy novels – where officers can, from a central vantage point, collect and analyze a great deal of information from videos and other sources.
The centers use live camera feeds from public cameras and from privately-owned cameras to see what’s happening in the community and at specific sites where crimes are taking place.
Officers at a center can see these events as they happen.
The center would also let officers watch previously recorded videos relevant to investigations.
One goal, according to the Sheriff’s Department, is to get the information into the hands of deputies on patrol in a matter of minutes rather than hours or days.
“Offenders now have a greater ability to travel from other jurisdictions with ease due to the expansion of the Interstate system,” the press release reads. “The number of offenders committing crime in Guilford County who are traveling from other counties has grown exponentially. The ability to identify these suspects and the vehicles in which they travel is very difficult without camera footage. Utilizing such tools as the Real Time Crime Center is a necessity to assist law enforcement in this manner in today’s climate. The primary mission for Sheriff Rogers and the entire Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is to safeguard lives and property. He is also very mindful of protecting his deputies and detention officers from false claims.”
Department officials argue that this type of system is needed now more than ever and they report that other places are getting good results. They claim that, where now in use, the centers have “proven to be a highly effective tool for law enforcement in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting criminals.”
The cameras would be placed at locations where there are usually a lot of cars, a lot of people or a lot of crime.
The department has already begun research and development but the implementation would have a lot of moving parts – permission from private camera owners and funding from the Guilford County Commissioners. There will also no doubt be some objections from citizens who don’t like the Big Brother aspect of the innovation in local law enforcement.
Currently, there are Real Time Crime Centers in use in Charlotte, Raleigh, Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Hickory, Wilmington and Buncombe County (Asheville).
I guess any citizens who want any expectation of privacy should start building Faraday cages around their homes & property.
Sounds good, but who is gonna be there to run the program? Certainly not police officers and deputies.
The Sheriff should concentrate on not getting his vehicle stolen from the police station instead of playing Big Brother.
No.
Big Brother is growing. With the ridiculous amount of Federal Funds being dumped into the county it is understandable the Sheriff wants his turn at the trough. The question remains, how many millions of dollars now and in the future versus hiring the staff that is needed now, and in the future?
NO, NO, NO!!
It’s not a matter of “Not liking the Big Brother aspect” – this IS Big Brother.
The surveillance state is becoming ubiquitous and inescapable, and is gradually stealing our privacy and liberty. These precious intangibles are the sine qua non of every free society.
We surrender them at our peril.
STOP THIS TOTALITARIANISM – because that’s what it becomes. Inevitably.
“1984” perhaps? George Orwell’s story comes to fruition! Bad idea, real bad.
Maybe our high sherrif needs to learn how to secure his car and eliminate sex in his jail before the county gives him anymore toys. He doesn’t seem to be able to handle what he already has.
Minority Report. I remember the first time I saw the movie and knew this WAS our future. I hope Rogers loses the next election to Phil Byrd.
Rogers needs to use budget money to hire deputies and staff not buy gadgets to be like the big boys. We don’t need to be watched constantly, we need deputies on the streets, in the schools, doing investigations, undercover, training.
Not only NO, but HELL NO.
Phyl Byrd for Guilford County Sheriff in 2022.
I’d like to know how long have they been operating this program and the results from Raleigh, Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Hickory, Wilmington and Buncombe County (Asheville). For those who object, do you even know how many cameras you have been on already. Been to any grocery store, hardware, bar, restaurant, airport, drive on the interstate lately, drive on any toll roads. the list goes on and on. Point is, someone a Civilian or Officer sitting in a room somewhere isn’t interested in your activities. They are looking for evidence of a crime. The person who broke into your home, assaulted your mother or father, robbed you or your business, shot someone you love, know or care for. It’s a program that co-ordinates existing systems and yes expanding systems to help solve crimes. And for those worried about police conduct, guess what, It’s there for you too.
Sheriff Rogers needs to focus on the county and not the city. This crime center would monitor cameras in the city. Shouldn’t that be the police department’s responsibility? The county doesn’t have that many public camera systems except maybe the DOT cams. Its time for a new sheriff with experience. Not someone who is playing police because he never made it past the first couple of years before getting fired. Ernest Cuthbertson (GPD) is running (I hear). So is TJ Phipps, Randy Powers, Phil Byrd, and Billy Queen. All of these candidates regardless of party have more experience than Danny Rogers. I’d take any of them. Let’s make a point in the ‘primary and then in the general.
How is this supposed to work past a ” City Limit” sign? If not I guess us “country folk” will have to go from rock salt shells to 00.