Document text
SUNNY Temp: 86 °F Wind: NNW at 13 mph Tuesday, June 17, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 2, 2003 Big Brother or a useful safeguard? A proposed Medford security network would help police by linking video and laptop data for a speedier response By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune The long arm of the law might soon grow longer. A sophisticated communications system developed by the military could offer police and other public safety agencies a virtual reach into the most remote regions of Jackson County. Medford police are studying a proposed $500,000 communications network that would require 120 transmitter nodes installed throughout the city. The system, which eventually could be expanded throughout the county, would be funded by grants from the federal Department of Homeland Security. Advertisement The system uses high-speed wireless technology that connects a broad range of electronic devices such as phones, computers, laptops, notepads and surveillance equipment. With the technology, schools, many of which already have cameras, could feed real-time video directly to police headquarters. Firemen who have cameras on their helmets could transmit images of the inside of a burning building back to headquarters. Police could have cameras mounted on the dash of a squad car that would broadcast traffic stops back to the station. A remote camera could be installed in Cantrall-Buckley Park or other recreational areas to keep an eye on vandals. Banks could transmit video information to police while a robbery is taking place. "It’s going to revolutionize how we transmit data," said Medford police Deputy Chief Ron Norris. The city, which conducted a successful test of the system recently in Alba Park, has received a $25,000 federal grant for a study to determine how it would perform throughout Jackson County. Norris said the system, sold through Florida-based MeshNetworks Inc., consists of a series of relatively small transmitter nodes installed on lamp posts and other locations that can actually route data faster as more users come online. The technology has not been made available to cities until recently. North Las Vegas has begun testing a recently purchased system. Despite the system’s military roots, Norris doesn’t think the average citizen will find the technology particularly intrusive. "We’re more into public safety — not Big Brother," he said. Norris noted that the police got flak from the public after cameras were installed to catch red light violators. Central Point also was criticized when the police department installed a surveillance camera at the corner of Highway 99 and Pine Street. It has since been removed. Norris said the technology’s main purpose is to give more information to police and public safety officials, not as a surveillance tool. Police in squad cars could receive mug shots instantly to confirm the identity of a suspect. Officers could file reports of accidents or investigations back to the office from computers in their cars. Norris said one benefit of the system will be to get rid of cell phones, which cost the city about $30,000 a year and often fail during times of high usage in emergencies. The study will attempt to determine annual operating costs for the system. Police will continue to use old-fashioned radio waves to communicate along with the new technology. "It’s nice to have redundant systems," said Norris. The county Board of Commissioners, which has supported the idea, also wondered how the devices would work in outlying areas. "With the layout of our valley, with all its nooks and crannies, how would it work in the deep Applegate?" questioned Commissioner Sue Kupillas. Doug Townsend, director of technology services for Medford, said it would be difficult to set up transmitting nodes that would cover every square inch of the county. However, because of the portability and flexibility of the system, temporary communication links could be established in emergency situations, or transmitters could be placed permanently in problem areas, he said. Emergency vehicles equipped with the technology can also act as transmitters and could be linked by line of sight to effectively carry a signal out of a remote area. Commissioner Dave Gilmour said the system, which offers a frequency bandwidth far higher than cell phones, could also be useful to commercial interests. He suggested that if businesses bought into it, it could offset some of the operating costs. But Commissioner Jack Walker wondered, "Are we trying to push a level of communications technology that will be obsolete two years from now?" Townsend said it’s always difficult trying to decide when to buy a new piece of technology, but noted the funding from Homeland Security is available now. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Critic says the system could be abused A frequent critic of police practices, Curt Chancler thinks the new technology could be useful, but has reservations about how it might be handled. "There’s a tremendous opportunity for abuses and for taking away civil rights," said Chancler, a spokesperson for the Jackson County Citizens Group, a government watchdog organization. "We’re getting away from fundamental and constitutional rights because of technology." Having cameras in remote areas probably would be appropriate in some cases, he said, as long as the public is properly informed about it. Compared to other countries, the United States still lags behind in keeping a technological eye on its citizens. "In the streets of London, they can monitor you from one edge of town to the other," he explained. Still, with more and more devices coming on the market, it will become even more necessary to strike a balance between rights and safety, he said. "The public will always be willing to give the police department every edge," said Chancler. "But these tools can be used against them." Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times