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I see by the article in this morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press that the Coeur d’Alene Police Department wants to spend $2000-$2500 to put a video camera at Independence Point to, “…help police monitor the complaints received about loud parties, crimes and loitering that take place in the evening hours there…”
Wasn’t the $50,000 spent on Boopsie’s Bunker supposed to accomplish that by creating a “police presence” there? (See my five-part “Toilet Not Included” series.)
There were a couple of real laugh lines in the “news” article.
“The live feed wouldn’t be monitored 24 hours per day. ‘It would be accessed when necessary,’ she said Friday. ‘Patrol officers could feasibly look at a live scene of the area while responding to a call there from the north end of the city.'” Yeah, I want to see a patrol officer watching his computer screen video while whizzing down Ramsey Road/Northwest Boulevard on his way to a call. Explaining that in the accident report will be a real exercise in creative writing.
“The cruise ships unload there…” My idea of a cruise ship is the Dawn Princess or the Allure of the Seas, not the party boats we see on the lake.
Comment by Bill — July 24, 2010 @ 7:38 am
So does this mean the police would be sitting in the utility shed “bunker” in the park, watching a video feed from Independence Point, a little ways away?
Comment by mary — July 24, 2010 @ 8:39 am
Video feed is not such a bad idea. It is a real cheap way to force multiply and it provides irrefutable documentation. The bunker was the genuine waste especially for the amount of $$$ spent on the silly thing. They can’t even lease it out as a hot dog stand it is so spartan.
Comment by Wallypog — July 24, 2010 @ 9:21 am
The camera will be in place in early fall when the problems take place in summer?
A number of years ago, the downtown association didn’t like the teenagers cruising Sherman. Their solution was to install speakers on the Elder Building and play classical music. The speakers were installed and disappeared. It seems it didn’t take much thought figure out that climbing the fire escape at the rear of the building would access the roof and the speakers. Surprise…no nice new speakers.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — July 24, 2010 @ 10:16 am
Wallypog,
Your observations about video can be correct, but only when and if the system is properly specified, designed, installed, and maintained.
In August 2005 I put up a Whitecaps post titled The Technology Tornado – Criminal Justice Meets the Wizard of Oz. It was based on a series of lectures I gave at Eastern Washington University in the soc and crim justice program, and it tried to explain some of the factors public safety administrators need to consider when technology applications are being discussed.
Comment by Bill — July 24, 2010 @ 11:15 am
Mary,
No, because most of the time Boopsie’s Bunker isn’t occupied.
Comment by Bill — July 24, 2010 @ 11:33 am
What is the huge video camera on the roof of the Lakeview Towers aimed at and who owns it?
Comment by Gary Ingram — July 24, 2010 @ 6:46 pm
Gary, It might belong to one of the television stations.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — July 24, 2010 @ 6:55 pm
I thought Boopsie’s Bunker was to be portable? It does not look that portable to me with all of that rock mortared to to ground.
Comment by concerned citizen — July 25, 2010 @ 7:48 am
citizen,
Boopsie’s Bunker is “Army portable.” It is movable but not mobile. It can be disassembled and relocated. Each disassembly and relocation will require a crane, flatbed tractor-trailers, and laborers. Each move will cost several thousand dollars. In addition there will be ground prep and utility hookup at the gaining site.
Comment by Bill — July 25, 2010 @ 8:18 am