We first arrived on the police patrol video scene with our 2004 acquisition of an in-car video provider. Some of those earliest mobile video offerings for law enforcement were analog. But we were already on the vanguard of the digital revolution and soon introduced our own PatrolRecorder series of mobile DVRs. The PatrolRecorder captures the entire scene, helping officers document their interactions with the public, recreate the sequence of events, identify perpetrators, and prosecute criminals. And sometimes they capture some wild footage, from runaway wheels to rogue rides!

More recently, we introduced our law enforcement clientele to the SV-1500 three-in-one solution. This flashlight/camera/DVR combo not only sheds light on the scene, it captures it as well — in still photos and moving video. And just this week, we took a new turn in police work as we mounted our MDVRs on patrol motorcycles — a first. Check out the photos on Flickr from our installation for the Del Rio, TX PD. Perhaps Ponch could’ve used a PatrolRecorder…

The fallen heroes of 9/11 are survived by heroes still standing. But rarely are they standing still! Every day, every night, members of the public safety and security community face urgency and peril, racing against the clock to the scene of an accident or other catastrophe. We are honored to support the many arms of this valiant community–those police officers, fire personnel, and EMT teams who put their own lives on the line to serve and protect, to rescue and save.

Our mobile video solutions are contributing to their lifesaving crisis response efforts, both on the road and at the destination. With our collision avoidance cameras along for the ride, drivers of emergency vehicles are less likely to be involved in moving or backing accidents. And our mobile video surveillance systems are recording evidentiary data at the scene while facilitating crisis communication with such features as live streaming video and the wireless transfer of electronic data.

The Los Angeles City Airport Fire Department is one Safety Vision first responder client who is using both types of mobile video solutions on their Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) fleet. These are the personnel and vehicles that rush to the scene of crashes, fires, and other urgent incidents: rough duty that requires tough equipment. Each of the fleet’s vehicles is equipped with a Safety Vision backup camera and monitor system to prevent accidents at the scene and a forward-facing camera for fire-scene recording. We were on site at the airport recently and have these photos to share.

As another September passes, we salute the brave women and men who commit their lives to serving and saving others. It’s not only fools who rush in. Sometimes, it’s heroes.

I encountered two other stories about water safety, today. The first, also courtesy of NPR,  cautioned Florida boaters to watch for manatees in the water, as many of these endangered marine mammals (also called sea cows and described as gentle) have lost their lives to watercraft strikes. And the second was a piece in policeone.com, an article by a marine enforcement officer about the rise in BUI (Boating Under the Influence) incidents. Whether by land or by sea, don’t drink and drive!

At Safety Vision, we’re also trying to raise awareness of the perils of texting while driving. Here’s a good rule of thumb: “Put it in your pocket ’til you park it!” We posted a disturbing but relevant public service announcement video produced by a group of British teens to our Facebook page, this week. Check it out (warning: it is graphic) and while you’re there, become a fan of Safety Vision: It’s as easy as clicking a button!

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the attached picture as much as I do. That’s my niece Kalysta (daughter of Safety Vision sales veep Rex Colorado) belly-riding with a dolphin and wearing her life vest like a good girl! It’s a great shot of two lovely creatures enjoying a little water play and each other’s company: Look at the grin on both their faces! For additional photos of Rex and his family having good, clean, safe fun with nature, check out the Rex & Family set in our Flickr photostream.

Happy Labor Day: Keep it real, keep it safe…

Walter said his fleet decided to procure mobile surveillance systems to document traffic stops and prisoner transport. “There is liability in not documenting passengers while they are in the vehicle,” says Walter. “Most school districts in our area have mobile video systems installed in their vehicles and we have seen the positive outcome that has accompanied this.”

Santa Fe ISD outfitted their fleet with the PatrolRecorder™ CF MDVR system that includes an SV-LCD-56B monitor; a windshield-mounted, forward-facing color zoom camera; a cabin-mounted camera; and a wireless audio unit. The PatrolRecorder™ CF merges technology and simplicity by incorporating a CompactFlash® card for easy data retrieval.

Pictures of the installation are posted in Safety Vision’s photostream on Flickr.

Safety Vision was a gold sponsor of the event that benefits the CCLEFT Law Enforcement Scholarship Fund and other local charities. At the event were 600 attendees including 353 participating anglers.

Safety Vision collaborated with CCLEFT organizers to create a special category called Law Enforcement Personnel Only; Safety Vision donated prize money and three All Star/Abu Garcia fishing rod and reel combos for this category, created with law enforcement professionals in mind.

“We wanted to support law enforcement by helping fund the education of future law enforcement professionals,” says Chuck. “Safety Vision participated in CCLEFT due to our commitment to protect the lives and property of the public and public safety professionals with digital video recording systems.”

Seems like these anglers put their tackle and rod to good use! Click here for a catch of pictures from the tournament posted on Flickr.

Nicknamed the Armadillo, the formidable and eyecatching eyesore is parked in front of “nuisance properties“: suspected drug houses or scenes of frequent disorderly conduct. The strategy: establishing a highly visible police presence without squandering patrol officer manhours. The result: shaming criminals and other scofflaws into modifying their behavior or beating a retreat. The prize: restoring a little peace and quiet to troubled neighborhoods.

The Armadillo is attracting attention, all right–nationwide! (And you thought armadillo sightings were “a Texas thang!”) Check out recent video newsclips from Fox and the Wall Street Journal and in online articles including wsjonline and gizmodo.

The Armadillo is rigged with four exterior-mounted SV-620 color cameras, a Safety Vision RoadRecorder 6000 PRO mobile DVR, and an interior-mounted SV-LCD70 display monitor. Plans are to add a fifth camera mounted behind the windshield to record the view from the inside looking out. And based on the success of (and citizen demand for) this prototype Armadillo, the Peoria PD may add similarly equipped vehicles to its crimefighting fleet, launching an armada of armored Armadillos!

Also of note: according to Jeff Wilson of the Peoria PD, the Armadillo is a top 10 contender in an International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) innovative policing contest. We’re rootin’ for the Armadillo, Friends!

As discussed in the Police article, digital is the new wave of mobile surveillance and encompasses high tech features, such as capturing video on DVDs, wireless data transfer, video management solutions, and using hard drives and flash memory cards for data storage.

Safety Vision customer  Lt. Kirk Jackson of the LaMarque Police Department has been using Safety Vision’s PatrolRecorder 4C mobile digital video system for 2 years and contributed to the article. Click here to read the entire piece from Police magazine.

• Stolen vehicle recovery
• Identification of felons or wanted individuals
• Monitoring school and playground perimeters for sexual predators
• Amber Alerts
• Identification of delinquent citations for revenue enforcement
• BOLO (Be on look out) suspects
• Crime scene intelligence and surveillance
• Monitoring of gang activity and locations
• Drug enforcement

The ALPR system captures and stores all license plates that the police vehicle passes while driving. Picking up thousands of license plates per shift, the system can capture plates with vehicle speeds up to 160 miles per hour. Providing historical data associated with license plates, the system alerts officers of potentially dangerous situations and gives a background for the officer to go by. ALPR is also used heavily for identifying those with outstanding traffic violations.

Used in conjunction with police car video systems, ALPR is the new rage in mobile law enforcement technology solutions. Those who are running from the law, watch out…!

Check out PIPS Technology’s Web site for more information on ALPR.

Interested in what really happens while at the scene? Go on your own ride-along by checking out law enforcement video clips on Vimeo and blutube.

The incident was captured by Safety Vision’s PatrolRecorder 4C RHD (removable hard drive) mobile DVR. It all began when Sergeant Matthew Davidson of the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable’s Office came to the aid of a “nervous” motorist changing a flat on a narrow bridge shoulder as traffic rushed by. Moments before the semi tire rolled onto the scene, the motorist looked up and spied the oncoming tire. And just in the nick of time: His startled exclamation of warning prompted Sgt. Davidson to move out of harm’s way, not a moment or millimeter too soon.

We’re happy to report that Sgt. Davidson sustained only minor injuries while proclaiming major gratitude at  his good fortune. It’s true what they say: One good deed deserves another.

See the story as reported on Houston’s KTRK Channel 13, (C) 2009-KTRK-TV/DT.

Other public sector agencies are getting in on the act, from the Coast Guard to the Drug Enforcement Agency to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  According to the chief of the FBI’s national press office, “Our job … is to talk to people out in the world, and this is how people are talking these days. We can either be part of the new wave or we can watch it.”

Move over Ashton, Oprah, and Ellen: all the world’s a-Twitter….

Photo by Flickr user lucy96734