News

By Steve Marchessault

Cameras are everywhere, or at least it seems that way. Local and network news stations run clips from individuals taking videos on smartphones or businesses recording a hold up to government satellite videos. TV dramas that focus on crime are constantly accessing and extracting pictures and video from all those cameras strategically placed near the crime scene in order to catch the perpetrator. The reality of the situation is camera systems may be numerous and growing at an exponential rate but the types of systems and their use vary dramatically. This article will focus on some of the various types of camera systems available to the general public and how they should be used.

When selecting a camera system the first questions that should be asked are: What do you want to see? and When do you want to see it? The answers to these two questions will ensure you receive the appropriate camera to capture the images you want. Cameras range dramatically from an indoor camera that needs light to provide a picture 10 feet away, to an outdoor camera that can see a person on the deck of a boat five miles at sea in the middle of the night, and as you can imagine the prices are dramatically different.

There are two main types of cameras on the market, digital cameras and analog cameras. In simplistic terms digital cameras can be viewed over the internet without the use of a gateway device, and their video can be transmitted and stored remotely. These cameras are also referred to as IP cameras or internet protocol cameras. Some manufacturers have Apps for their IP cameras to make it even easier to remotely access and view via a smart phone.

Once you’ve determined the cameras you need for your particular purpose, you’ll need to decide what, where, and how long you want to record the video from your cameras.  If you’re not interested in recording any video, then you really don’t need a camera system. Assuming you want to record, you need to define what you want to record. Most cameras with their associated software can be set up to record after detecting motion, this is highly recommended, otherwise you’ll record a lot of extremely uninteresting video.

Next is where you want to record. This decision can also affect the type of camera. If you want to record locally, at your home or business, you will need a digital video recorder, or DVR. If you want to record remotely, you will need a high speed internet connection, digital or IP cameras and a storage service provider. There are advantages and disadvantages to both storage methods that you can discuss with your security provided.

Finally you’ll need to know how long you want to record. Some camera systems will take a ten second clip once motion is detected, then wait a minute before taking another clip. This reduces the storage space required, but may cause you to miss something very important. This type of system is not recommended for a business, but is very useful for a homeowner. Businesses need to capture the entire event, so a system that continues to record as long as motion is detected is very important.

I realize I’ve only briefly touched on the many aspects of a camera system, so for additional help and guidance in determining your specific needs, please contact your local security professional.

About the Author:  Steve Marchessault, General Manager at Sonitrol New England, has over 26 years of business experience, including over 16 years working exclusively in the electronic security industry.

A new law enforcement trend is sweeping the country – Verified Response. Police Departments across the United States and Canada are continually challenged by the need to respond to all alarms even though, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, a staggering 94 percent to 98 percent of all alarm activations are false. In a post-9/11 world where police departments have been forced to take on additional law enforcement duties and increased Homeland Security responsibilities, the ability to free up time and re-deploy police officers to higher-priority calls has never been more important. Police are turning to Verified Response laws, which require verification of an event before police will respond to the scene, in an effort to reduce the amount of time wasted responding to false alarms.

More than 30 cities have adopted Verified Response and many more are currently considering it. Policies vary from one locale to another, but Verified Response generally states that police will respond to an alarm only if it can first be verified through audio or video or by an eyewitness.

When Every Minute Counts

• Without verification of the alarm, it can take police upwards of 45 minutes to respond.
• A private security guard can verify the alarm, but guards are costly and this approach still can result in delays averaging 17 minutes.
• With Sonitrol’s audio and/or video electronic surveillance, alarms are verified. The average response time for a Sonitrol alarm is just seven minutes.

Police Give Sonitrol Top Priority

“From a reliability standpoint, what separates Sonitrol from
other alarm companies is the crucial and accurate information
that is provided on the way to a scene. Sonitrol is the best
system out there for making apprehensions.”

Sonitrol Intelligent Alarms Verify Activity to Assist Police

The false alarm rate of conventional systems is as high as 98%, an unacceptable figure by
any measure. Sonitrol’s intelligent verification technology is different. Our audio and video
technology allows us to immediately verify whether a break-in is in progress, or whether a
false alarm has sounded. This keeps our false alarm dispatch rate low and our apprehension
rate high because we provide police with real-time intelligence as they respond to the
scene. With Sonitrol, security is no longer a guessing game.

• Sonitrol alarms are given high priority by police departments
• Sonitrol has a high apprehension rate
• Sonitrol has a low false alarm rate
• Sonitrol has strong working relationships with local police departments

Sonitrol is a Name Police Know and Trust

Our state-of-the-art technology and trained central station operators can hear, interpret and
report the sounds being made inside a building as they occur. No other system can give
police such accurate, real-time information.

WETHERSFIELD — The security cameras installed at Wethersfield High School have helped staff resolve student conflicts and deter vandalism and bullying, school officials say.

Since April, 43 security cameras have been installed throughout the school’s five floors and parking lots.

“We’ve had thefts we’ve been able to solve,” Wethersfield Principal Thomas Moore said. “They have been very helpful because we can go back and rewind the disc to see what happened in the day or the previous day.”

The decision to purchase the security cameras was spurred by an incident in January in which a 15-year-old male student was charged with kidnapping a 14-year-old female student from school at knife-point.

Anne Ricco, a parent with the Parent Teacher Student Association, said parents lobbied the board of education after the incident to improve security measures at the school.

“The board of education acted on it immediately, and we are very happy with what they have done,” Ricco said.

The cameras are among several security measures the school has taken in the last six months. Some safety procedures include locking all doors during school hours and requiring photo identification for visitors. The school has always had a police resource officer on school grounds.

Moore said the main entrance to the high school has been enclosed, and visitors must now sign in and leave a form of personal identification before entering the building.

“In the past we knew when someone entered the building, but we never knew when they left,” Moore said.

Moore said the school is in the process of changing door locks and replacing them with swipe cards for staff to limit where and when someone can enter the building.

The school has also changed its student parking rules. Students must display parking passes in order to park on school grounds.

“Given the climate in schools in the state and country, it was an opportune time to look at what we can do to improve safety,” Moore said.

Contact Ann Marie Somma at asomma@courant.com.
Copyright 2006, Hartford Courant