Homeland security funds used for license plate readers at California mall
News 10 in Calfornia has an interesting story about surveillance cameras and license plate readers co-funded by homeland security at the Arden Fair Mall.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Homeland Security funds have poured into the state of California since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, California counties have received almost $2 billion in anti-terrorism grants. Sacramento County has received $79 million.
Arden Fair Mall Security Chief Steve Reed said he's received $100,000 in federal funds. The money has gone toward two high-tech surveillance systems.
"This actually enables us to record data with our 142 cameras that mall purchased for $1.5 million," Reed said. "That money came from mall management, but it enabled me to tie the cameras into a system the federal government paid for."
Reed showed off that system set up in two offices at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento. "We have a set of eyes here and another one if I'm watching in my office. And we have two more sets of eyes at the security information desk in the middle of the mall," he said.
Security officers watch escalators, stores, hallways, indoor and outdoor walkways and parking lots. "After a day of things that happen at the mall, if there's any footage that we need to retrieve, we can get it. We can give it to the appropriate law enforcement agency if they need it," Reed explained.
Security officers can zoom in and make hard copies of closeups. They can also record images onto a disk.
"We've been able to reduce crimes significantly and record slip and falls," Reed said. "If there's any kind of maintenance or safety issues we can take care of them because we see every nook and cranny at the mall which covers 77 acres."
Reed spent the rest of the federal funds on license plate readers mounted on security vehicles. "Officers drive up and down our parking lots and structures taking pictures of license plates," he said. "Everyday we're able to download a list of plates from Sacramento police stolen car reports. If the reader sees that plate, it sounds an alarm and we can call the authorities."
According to Reed, since the system was installed, it has found 21 stolen vehicles and resulted in the arrest of 22 individuals.
Sacramento Regional Transit has received $2 million from Homeland Security, according to Doug Voska, a Sacramento police officer who is under contract to RT. He runs the transit system's Video Control Center.
Like the mall, Voska has officers peering at screens attached to security cameras located at light rail stations and on board train cars.
"Prior to this, we had a piece-meal camera system with a few cameras here and there," said Voska. "Now we have a much better system and we can monitor each camera live as it sees what's happening now. And we can prevent any acts of terrorism and crimes."
Voska said officers can quickly be dispatched to the scene if problems arise.
"Part of the Homeland Security funding also provided for a public awareness campaign," Voska said. "Signs are posted telling passengers about the surveillance and how they can help us and protect the transit system."
Voska added that public response has been positive. "It not only makes them feel safer. They know they're actually safer," he said.
