Iron Sky, a provider of wireless video surveillance solutions to local law enforcement, installed a wireless video surveillance solution for the City of Hawthorne, California. Iron Sky designed and installed the system for Eucalyptus Park, providing Hawthorne Police with the ability to proactively monitor the park increasing the safety and security of it.
The cameras have given the police department an effective tool to fight crime. "Crime is basically nonexistent there," said Lt. Jim Royer, Hawthorne Police.
Calls for service in Eucalyptus Park decreased dramatically and immediately after the cameras are in place. Prior to the installation, Hawthorne Police assigned an officer to the park from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Since the cameras were installed, no officers have been assigned to the park, resulting in 11 man-hours per day of officer time put back on the streets.
The types of criminal activity occurring in the park have also changed dramatically. Instead of calls for narcotics and alcohol activities, most of the incidents now involve nuisance, loitering and violating park rules.
If police receive a call about an incident at the park, officers can use the cameras to take a look before sending a patrol unit. And officers have made several arrests as a result of the cameras. When Public Works found a park bench had been vandalized, the camera recordings showed the individuals involved. Police were able to use the cameras images to identify the suspects after they returned to the park the next day.
"Iron Sky's mission statement is to 'Provide Better Tools to Fight Crime,' and to put those tools in the hands of law enforcement officers," said Keith Drummond, Iron Sky President and CEO. "We are thrilled that the Hawthorne Police Department has seen value in those tools and are utilizing them as they protect the community."
"The wireless mesh was a much more cost-effective solution for transmitting the camera images than installing fiber optic cabling, and eliminates the monthly fees associated with leasing T1 lines," Royer said. "And the remote accessibility of the Iron Sky solution truly is a force multiplier. Iron has given us a unique tool that delivers results to help us stay at the forefront of modern law enforcement."
"Hawthorne has been an excellent partner to work with," said Scott Frigaard, Iron Sky VP of Sales. "They have a vision for utilizing technology to make the community safer and we have been impressed by the results Hawthorne Police Department has achieved since installing Iron Sky's solution."