By Jim Stanford on February 4, 2010
Freedom is slavery.
Ben Cannon wrote a story this week about Jackson cops using hidden cameras to spy on citizens, and how such monitoring can be useful in solving crimes.
One passage set off all kinds of alarms:
“Police also monitor cameras installed in some public places. There are cameras in the parking garage, for example, and also one at the Jackson Hole skate park on High School Road. But there may also be a few cameras the police don’t want you to know about, according to one Jackson cop.
‘There are a couple of cameras I can’t tell you about because it wouldn’t be within our policy,’ said Det. Russ Rushill, an investigator with the Jackson Police Dept. Rushill explained that the authorities can install cameras only in very public areas, where someone does not have a right to privacy.”
The notion of secret cameras the police won’t tell us about prompted an inquiry to city officials. Councilors Melissa Turley and Greg Miles responded quickly to a request for information, and Administrator Bob McLaurin talked with Police Chief Todd Smith, who provided a list of cameras the department utilizes for “general operational purposes.”
Town Square web cam.
In short, police have cameras in their patrol cars; hand-held and portable pinhole cameras for investigations; a body wire for drug stings; and a pole-mounted camera borrowed from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office for issues like neighborhood speeding. The Wyoming Department of Transportation also has cameras mounted on nearly every traffic light, the footage from which cops presumably have access to.
Not on the chief’s list are hidden cameras in the parking garage and skate park, referenced in Cannon’s story. Administrator McLaurin assures me that there are no other public surveillance cameras in town besides those.
Letter from Police Chief Todd Smith to City Administrator Bob McLaurin:
Per our discussion, I wanted to give you a general overview of the cameras that the Jackson Police Department utilizes for general operational purposes. I will give a little history on each. They are as follows:
• In-dash video/audio. These are the cameras in our patrol cars. Generally to capture the events of a traffic stop and provide documentation of events for use in court on cases such as DUI’s.
• Hand held video/audio. The department has two handheld video cameras. These are housed in investigations and generally used to document crime scenes, such as suicides, homicides, robberies, burglaries etc. On occasion they may be used to video the exterior of a dwelling for use in applying for a search warrant.
• Pin-hole camera. Video only. This camera is housed in investigations. This is a covert camera used in surveillance operations such as employee theft cases. Typically the owner of the property or the manager will suspect someone is stealing from them and request the camera be installed to catch the thief in the act. This camera is portable and typically stores images for several days at a time on a hard drive. Used a dozen or so times a year as needed. Also used when a pre-determined location is known for a drug sting to capture the drug transaction for court.
• Interview room ceiling camera. Audio and video. This camera is connected to a hard drive and is housed in the interview room. It is used to capture audio and video of interviews done with suspects and victims of crime for evidence in court. Required by District Court for felony cases.
• Body wire. Audio only. Used in drug cases for two purposes. Safety of the parties involved and evidence in court. Typically worn by a confidential informant or an officer if an introduction is done by the informant to the suspect.
• Pole camera. Video only. To be purchased in the near future. Paid for by a HLS grant. Used to place on a street pole and integrates with a radar unit. Typically used to do traffic assessments for problem areas. Helps determine traffic volume in a particular area, average speeds, busiest time of day etc. Used in incidents where the public perceives that there is a specific traffic related issue such as neighborhoods. The TCSO currently has one and we borrow it as needed and when it is available. Use of a pole camera eliminates the need to post a police officer at the location to capture the data that is not cost effective and removes the officer from the street and other duties. Helps eliminate subjectivity of a problem and deal only with real data. They already exist in multiple locations around the State of Wyoming and in Jackson. WYDOT has them on nearly every traffic light in town.
Item #1 has been used since 1994. Item #2 1980’s. Item #3 1996. Item #4 1989. Item #5 1980’s. Item #6 used in Teton County since approximately 2002.
Hope that helps give you some insight.
Let me know if I can answer any further questions about any of the particular items used.
Regards,
Todd
Posted under Crime, Politics, Town Government
Video surveillance should not be a threat to those of us who are honest, hardworking people.
In fact, it is a saftey benefit to our community. In cities across the US, many police department encourage or require businesses to install video systems. Countless crimes have been prevented and solved by the technology. I have been involved in the design and installation of hundreds of video systems in my career. They deter crime, assist law enforcement and increase profits in the businesses that utilize them.