Making a Break
Sheriff's department makes move to digital surveillance
- By Del V. Salvi
- Jun 30, 2008
Rewind to the year 1991. Literally. After 14 years
of overused VHS tapes, programmable VCRs
and older matrix switchers, the Dearborn
County, Ind., Sheriff ’s Department was overdue for an
upgrade to its video surveillance system. The deputies
and officers wanted a security system that would allow
them to depend less upon manned in-house security and
more upon digital, PC-controlled cameras and recorders.
Through the direction of representatives at NORCOM
Inc., an authorized Sanyo security products dealer,
a networked video surveillance system was installed
in the county law enforcement center. With state-of-theart
security resources now in place, deputies are better
outfitted to monitor the building and protect public
access areas more efficiently.
“We looked into a few other companies that did this
kind of security system updating,” said Capt. David
Wismann, jail administrator. “We went with the Sanyo
solution from NOR-COM because it had so many
features above and beyond what anyone else offered.
The networked video surveillance management platform
far surpasses any of our product expectations.
Our facility is set for the present and future needs of
the department.”
NOR-COM, originally established as Northern
Kentucky Communications in 1971 as a services and
maintenance organization, provides equipment and system
integration expertise to the business, industrial,
healthcare, educational and entertainment markets. For
more than 36 years, NOR-COM has focused its efforts
on providing cutting-edge technology to clients, as well
as full backup and product support. Working closely
with the county, NOR-COM created an affordable security
and communications system solution for the
Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center.
Out with the Old
The first phase of the upgraded Dearborn system included
the installation of eight Sanyo high-performance
DVRs. Antiquated analog VCRs were replaced with
DSR-5016 DVRs to provide crisp, clear digital recording
with real-time monitoring at 120 ips. The DVRs also are
equipped with telemetry to provide PTZ control over
dome camera systems, making them ideal for the most
demanding surveillance applications.
“The DSR-5016 DVRs incorporate a unique feature
called region of interest area designation that was particularly
attractive to us,” said Capt. David Hall, who also
is a jail administrator. “We are able to obtain better picture
quality for preset screen areas along with the ability
to optimize file sizes for more efficient storage and
transmission.”
The DVRs are complemented by 45 color digital vandal-
proof cameras installed at the main jail, courthouse
and administrative buildings. Featuring innovative Pan-
Focus™ Technology, the new security cameras can focus
on every object in their field of view—no matter how
close or far away it is from the camera—effectively
increasing the coverage range of the cameras relative to
conventional image-focusing techniques. Additionally,
the dome cameras do not require manual adjustments
and are able to keep the full frame in sharp, clear focus
at all times. The coverage capabilities of the Pan-Focus
cameras reduce the number of cameras required for typical
video surveillance coverage and make unmanned
surveillance more efficient.
Future Ready
The video surveillance system better prepares the facility
for the seamless integration of future upgrades. Pan-
Focus technology cameras that were purchased for analog
functionality in their existing surveillance setup can
easily be converted to networked digital cameras by
adding an optional network IP board.
“In the future, the Dearborn County Sheriff ’s
Department will be able to easily and cost-effectively
upgrade their existing video surveillance system and
migrate to a networked digital operating platform,” said
Jim Kelley, installation manager/coordinator for NORCOM.
“With the installed Pan-Focus cameras, the
Dearborn facility is already network-ready with the simple
addition of the Pan-Focus IP boards.”
Also added in the recent system upgrade at Dearborn
is Sanyo’s Video Pilot enterprise control software. The
PC-based solution allows officers to view, monitor and
control their entire video surveillance system from one
PC with a high level of convenience and flexibility.
Video Pilot features a graphical user interface that is
designed for easy navigation with features like file-free
architecture, multiscreen configurations, drag-and-drop
camera placement and a convenient desktop tool bar for
regularly used functions. With Video Pilot, officers are
able to view live video streams from virtually anywhere
via the Internet, record video from multiple sources and
play it back locally or remotely. Previously recorded
video also can be exported for archival storage or to
present as evidence in court.
Mission Accomplished
“The software is so user-friendly. It’s so easy to operate,”
Wismann said. “In our business, we have a built-in
turnover of employees, with more than three shift
changes every 24 hours, so it is important for us to have
a video surveillance system that’s easy to learn and use
so employees can get up and running without a tremendous
amount of training.”
NOR-COM’s technical support team provided the
sheriff ’s department with a touchscreen and joystick
controller to further improve ease of operation and overall
monitoring capabilities. The VSP-9000 interfaces
with a digital multiplexer for selectable camera call-up
of any camera in the system as well as control of all system
DVRs. Additionally, two 32-inch color LCD video
monitors are installed in the main control room, providing
large, crisp reproduction of all live and recorded
video images.
“Sanyo’s video surveillance technologies and NORCOM’s
technical support have combined to provide us with
an outstanding solution,” Wismann said. “Additionally, they
have been there after the sale to ensure we are fully familiar
with all of the system’s capabilities. They have done
everything in their power to make this
a positive experience.”
This article originally appeared in the issue of .