INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL
Experience, Longevity Focused on Security
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Mar 01, 2016
In November 2015, New York-based system integrator
Total Recall Corp. celebrated 30 years
of designing and delivering technologically advanced
video surveillance security solutions for a variety
of industries including law enforcement, government
agencies and corporations. Over the years, Total
Recall has been called upon to help provide tactical
security for some of the most challenging situations
such as rebuilding the security system damaged by
Hurricane Sandy at the Statue of Liberty and the
Concert for Valor that attracted hundreds of thousands
of attendees to the National Mall in Washington,
D.C.
Total Recall has long focused on providing law enforcement
with efficient and technologically advanced
video surveillance solutions, which is why they developed
the CrimeEye line of products. Their exclusive
CrimeEye tactical video units enable law enforcement
and municipalities to deploy complete video surveillance
in a permanent setting. Security Products magazine
asked Total Recall founder and president Jordan
Heilweil a few questions about his experience in the
ever changing environment of video surveillance over
the last three decades.
Q. It has been 30 years since you started Total Recall.
Were there times that you ever wondered if this
was the right career field?
A. I never questioned the path I chose. When I
started in this field 30 years ago, the technology was
much simpler. I feel like I grew up in the security industry.
Q. What has been the most gratifying installation
you have done, and why?
A. I have been very fortunate in my career. I have
worked in many very cool places. I’ve been to the
tops of very tall bridges as well as their underground
anchorage points, under the Lincoln Memorial, and
spent many nights at the Statue of Liberty to name
just a few. I have a special spot in my heart for the
Statue of Liberty. Being able to provide security for
a project of such stature and importance has been a
career highlight and a real honor for our company.
Q. In your early years, the security industry was
low voltage and there probably was not much excitement.
The emerging technologies have changed all
that. What are the biggest advancements you have
seen and participated in?
A. With the explosion of consumer electronics
came new affordable technology in the security world.
In the early years a black and white camera could cost
$500. The drive to digital came from the consumer
market. As far as the biggest advancements, the quality
of the images we can record and play back, and
the ability to route that information to a smartphone
halfway around the world is the biggest change I’ve
been a part of.
The speed that we go from finding the incident
to disseminating the information and taking action
is amazing. If you think about it, if the actions of
a known terrorist are caught on a surveillance system
in the United Kingdom, that information can
be streamed to the proper authorities in the United
States in just seconds.
In the old days, you went to the location and found
the VCR. Pressing play and fast forward, you hoped to
find the information and, if lucky, you were able to see
one or two frames of information. Then, if you had a
high-end solution, you had a video printer so you were
able to take a still picture. Then it was back in the car
to start taking action. You spent hours or days getting
the intel you needed to take action. Now that can happen
in minutes without leaving your office.
Q. As you look down the road in your career, can
you see more changes coming that will improve security
of people, infrastructure and assets?
A. Technology improves everyday. An integrator
can hide from new technology or embrace it. We have
chosen to always embrace it, validate it, and then figure
out what can I do with this technology that we
couldn’t do before?
Q. You are proud to be an American. What is
your most defining moment of security in the United
States?
A. I am very proud to be an American. I am very
proud that the city–wide solutions that we have deployed
help police departments keep those major cities
safe. However, the Statue of Liberty wins. Among
my friends, she is known as the “other” woman in my
life. In 2013, as a result of Hurricane Sandy, Liberty
Island and Ellis Island were severely damaged. We
worked with our close business partners and they
shared my vision and helped Total Recall donate a $4
million dollar security solution. The Statue of Liberty
is everything America stands for, and it’s an honor for
us to be a small part in helping her stay safe.
This article originally appeared in the March 2016 issue of Security Today.