Chattanooga police on Wednesday unveiled a new investigative tool that officials say will combine the city’s existing 37 public safety cameras (soon to be 53) with opt-in, local, private businesses’ security cameras to boost the police department’s real-time intelligence center and speed police response.
The system, dubbed Dragonfly Community Connect, will allow businesses with compatible, cloud-linked security systems to voluntarily give police extra eyes when they receive calls for service or a report of a public safety threat.
“As most of you already know, video is increasingly an essential part of our investigations, and the faster the police department can obtain that video, we can respond more effectively,” Police Chief David Roddy said.
Putting the system in place – with the help of EPB, the Better Business Bureau, the city’s technology department and Genetec Inc., a provider of open-architecture security solutions – has been years in the making, and businesses can now begin opting in by making agreements with the city.
Police say the system is not an invasion of privacy, as livestreams from businesses will not be regularly monitored by officers, but will be accessed when needed.