Fighting Crime From Above?

A blog about surveillance cameras in public and private spaces

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Entries from June 16th, 2009

Grand jury to investigate if judge damaged car

June 16th, 2009 · No Comments · Private Surveillance Leading Practice

In another round of civil service workers not acting very civil, the Houston Chronicle has an interesting article and non-grainy video of a man keying his neighbors Range Rover while walking his dog.

Judge Woody Densen, 69, could be charged with felony criminal mischief. Prosecutors have reviewed the video, which the neighbor [...]

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New Jersey police officer pounds schizophrenic man on CCTV

June 12th, 2009 · No Comments · Public Surveillance Failure

This privately owned CCTV camera was supposed to monitor patrons outside of Lawrence's Grill and Bar.  It soon served a second purpose — as contradictory evidence to an altercation with a local Passaic police officer.
Holloway, who is on medication for schizophrenia, joined more than 80 others outside that community's city hall Saturday to demand [...]

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Lower Manhattan Security Initiative: A complete waste of money

June 10th, 2009 · No Comments · No Verdict, Public Policy Failure

Yesterday a hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan which had security officers, security gates and plenty of CCTV cameras was bombed.  The whole incident was broadcast on TV.

Does this unfortunate incident mean that Deputy Commissioner of Counter-Terrorism of the New York City Police Department Richard Falkenrath has made misleading statements?
Mr Falkenrath, referring to the the Lower Manhattan Security [...]

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Do you recognize these grainy perps?

June 4th, 2009 · No Comments · Public Surveillance Failure

A plea from from the Fairfax House in York and the Peterborough police are asking for help identify these "grainy perps".  One perp stole a 300-year-old brass barometer, and the biker is wanted in connection with a rape.
The United Kingdom has over 4 million public cameras which have been pronounced ineffective by researchers.   However, that [...]

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New Orleans crime cameras: an unnatural disaster

June 3rd, 2009 · 2 Comments · Public Surveillance Failure

In the post-Hurricane Katrina environment, Mayor Ray Nagin decided to install crime cameras at any cost.  
It all started back in 2006 when an odd camera supplier arrangement led to a 2009 lawsuit from Southern Electronics and Active Solutions.
Documents produced in a civil lawsuit by spurned camera vendors Southern Electronics and Active Solutions have shed [...]

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