Chicago Dispatchers Now Have Video Link

Dispatchers at Chicago’s Office of Emergency Communications now have quick access to a network of public and private surveillance exterior cameras located throughout the city, at the moment that they take a 911 call from a citizen. Using technology turned on last December, calltakers now automatically see video of any surveillance cameras within 150 feet of a caller’s reported location. The calltaker can then manually pan and tilt the camera, and zoom in on the suspected activity. The calltaker can then add details to the original CAD incident, including a better description of people and vehicles, possible escape routes, or safe avenues for police to approach the scene or suspect. At a Thursday press conference, Mayor Richard Daley praised the system, and the participation of private businesses in creating the video camera network. He also noted other CAD upgrades that have just been completed, paid with a $6 million federal grant. Watch a WLS-TV report here, and read the mayor’s press release on the other upgrades here. You can also listen (mp3) to the Q&A of the press conference here, read the New York Times story which covers privacy concerns and if the cameras are truly effective in reducing crime or catching criminals, watch Fox-TV report.