The city of Atlanta has announced that $2.1 million dollars has been raised to fund a significant expansion of its state-of-the-art video surveillance network, the Loudermilk Video Integration Center, including $450,000 in city funding. The expansion will enhance public safety in District 8 in Buckhead and surrounding neighborhoods, according to a statement from the city.
This announcement comes after Mayor Kasim Reed pledged to take additional measures to address crime throughout the city. Those efforts include establishing a Repeat Offender Unit to monitor repeat offenders after their arrests, launching special police details that will control possible DUI activity after hours, and expanding the video integration center (VIC) to track more than 5,700 security cameras in private and public sector facilities.
“With the help of community partners, we are making another significant investment in cutting-edge technology that will assist our officers in preventing and reducing violent crime,” said Reed. “The safety of our residents and visitors is a top priority for my Administration, and I am committed to providing every resource our police department needs to ensure that we keep criminals off our streets.”
“I am pleased that the city is partnering with the Atlanta Police Foundation, our neighborhood civic associations, businesses, and other stakeholders in an effort to make our community safer,” said District 8 City Council Member Yolanda Adrean, who met with citizens along with city leaders to unveil the public safety plan on Oct. 13. “We will deploy new policing strategies in District 8 with a network of high-tech public safety security cameras and license plate readers.”
“District 8 will be the first council district to develop a district-wide master plan,” Adrean said. In addition to the funding announced today, Adrean has committed $300,000 from her district budget on this community safety initiative.
In 2011, the Atlanta Police Department opened the Loudermilk Video Integration Center. The VIC is an extension of traditional police work and allows officers to monitor images from thousands of cameras throughout the city.
“The Video Integration Center (VIC) is an essential tool that increases the department’s ability to monitor and secure city streets,” said Atlanta Police Chief George Turner.” The VIC is an excellent example of how public and private partnerships can benefit the community and today’s generous donation is key to identifying and capturing criminals in order to keep Atlanta safe.”
Since 2010, the Reed Administration has made unprecedented investments in public safety. Today, the Department boasts the largest force in the city’s history with more than 1,900 officers and overall crime is down 24 percent since 2009 YTD.