Macedon Police Department boosts security with video surveillance

The Macedon Police Department is committed to serving the community by working in partnership with the residents, businesses, and organizations that make up the western New York town. It is the department’s goal to prevent crime, solve problems, and improve the quality of life for all who live, visit, and do business in Macedon. The department aims to provide the highest levels of professional policing services to all members of the community.

The Macedon Police Department recently sought to enhance the security of its facilities to improve safety for the police and the staff of Macedon Town Ambulance who operate in the same building. As part of ongoing efforts to continually improve the department and its support for town residents, the Macedon Police Department regularly seeks out available grant funding from the state. After recently applying for the New York State Law Enforcement Technology grant program, the department received funding for the installation of a video surveillance system. The program helps law enforcement agencies purchase technology and equipment that can help them modernize operations, prevent crime, and improve public safety.

Now, the department has 21 FLEXIDOME fixed dome cameras installed around and in the building. Outdoor cameras provide a complete view of the exterior of the building and include integrated infrared illumination for clear images at night.

The cameras feature edge-based Intelligent Video Analytics Pro (IVA Pro). IVA Pro alerts officers if an individual or vehicle is present in defined areas of the parking lot at times when only staff should be at the building. The built-in intelligence also enables the department to use the Forensic Search feature in BVMS to make locating video footage of a specific incident faster and easier.

In the department’s patrol room, BVMS displays live views from the cameras. Officers and ambulance crew pass through the patrol room on their way out of the building, allowing them to see what is happening in the parking lot prior to exiting.

“We are no longer walking out blind to the parking lot. We can now see it on a monitor in the patrol room before going out the door,” said Adam Husk, Chief of Police for the Town of Macedon.

A public area of the lot serves as a location for community members to purchase or exchange goods sold online or on social media platforms. The new camera system provides 24-hour surveillance of the area for enhanced safety for the community.

At the front entrance, cameras with IVA Pro Visual Gun Detection are designed to detect an individual who is brandishing a gun while approaching the building and promptly notify staff. This capability provides additional safety measures for those inside the building.

Inside the building, cameras are installed in each main hallway in both the police and ambulance areas of the building. In one police interview room, a panoramic camera turns on at the push of a button to record audio during interviews.

Overall, the new video system has provided staff with an increased sense of safety and security.