Indiana County Implements Surveillance Camera Program

Indiana County Implements Surveillance Camera Program

Project Guardian is funded by money seized from drug dealers. Schalk believes the program will help deter criminals and prevent illicit activity in the county’s parks.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Dec 14, 2018

Harrison County in Indiana has added cameras to Hayswood Park in Corydon as part of the county’s Project Guardian program. The goal of the program—and cameras—is to prevent crime and catch those who commit it.

"Not just as a prosecutor but as a dad of three little kids, I understand the importance of having your kids be able to go to the park and not just enjoy their time but be safe with it," Harrison County, Indiana Prosecutor Otto Schalk told Wave 3 News.

According to Schalk, the idea for Project Guardian came about after two girls were murdered in Delphi, Indiana, in Feb. 2017. The police’s best clue in that case is a blurry photo of the man believed to be their killer.

“And certainly the tragedy that happened in Delphi two years ago, you know it really reminded us that there is evil in this world. And it also reminded us that a camera is only useful if it has a high resolution, it can capture with crystal clarity images,” Schalk said.

The cameras used in the program let the county monitor parks using WiFi, monitored by police. The cameras in Hayswood Park are the only ones installed so far, but the county plans to install cameras in all 13 county parks.

“And we do have several remote parks, some of them are small. So the camera systems will let us figure out when we have a problem occurring so we can notify the authorities,” said Larry Shickles, Harrison County Parks Board President.

Video recordings are stored in the cloud and deleted after a month. The footage can help in prosecuting criminals.

“When I have a high definition video of you with a needle in your arm, sitting next to a playground, it certainly makes proving it that much easier,” Schalk said.

Project Guardian is funded by money seized from drug dealers. Schalk believes the program will help deter criminals and prevent illicit activity in the county’s parks.

“It makes our families feel safe, it makes parents feel safe when they’re here with their kids,” Shickles said.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.