Pilot project capturing downtown Windsor activity
There are a lot of cameras in the downtown area with Windsor police having leaned on many for footage to assist their investigations.
“That's happened a couple of times as recent as last week, an unfortunate assault that took place in the downtown,” said Stephen MacKenzie, CEO of Invest Windsor-Essex.
Mayor Drew Dilkens points to the success of Detroit's Crime Centre.
“We want the entire city to be safe,” Dilkens said. “There is no doubt camera technology is part of that solution and we're looking very actively on how we can develop a real-time crime centre that will help the city provide the safety and security that residents need and deserve.”
A pilot project between ACS Security and downtown businesses has proven real-time cameras work.
“Compared to last year, 2022, within the same time frame that there was almost 270 incidents within a small block radius that we monitor and patrol and compared to this year we've reduced that by almost 60-70 percent,” said, Hassan Hammoud, vice president of Operations.
With 4k resolution and high end digital zoom quality the cameras have both detect and follow capabilities allowing for critical surveillance.
“We've seen weapon wielding individuals,” Hammoud said. “We've notified police immediately on those cases. We've seen people try to break into businesses that we service. We've seen individuals deal narcotics.”
ACS Security’s pro-active approach has helped report over 70 incidents to Windsor police in the last couple of months.
“We're not going to completely eradicate crime but we are going to mediate it as much as possible,” Hammoud said.
The company guarantees data collected is private and protected which puts city Coun. Renaldo Agostino at ease.
“People need to feel they know they're not being constantly followed and watched,” said Agostino who would like to see this project implemented across the city.
“Whatever we can do to expedite the process of being able to support Windsor Police in this manner I think we should do.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.