By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Closed circuit television surveillance cameras equipped with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) are coming soon to all of Chatham-Kent’s downtown areas.
Following a presentation from Chatham-Kent Police Chief Gary Conn May 13, municipal council approved the project that will cost just under $1 million to get off the ground.
Dubbed “Bird’s Eye View,” the initiative will see the installation of cameras in the core areas of Wallaceburg, Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury, Dresden, Wheatley and Thamesville, as well as additional cameras in Chatham, building on a two-year pilot project that saw cameras installed in the downtown in July 2023.
According to Conn, the Chatham cameras have proved to be a valuable tool in identifying suspects and witnesses, leading to arrests in several cases, including one involving a knife-wielding suspect, as well as a bank robbery, mischief at the cenotaph and a serious swarming attack involving six youth.
“These are just a few actual examples where CCTVs have been invaluable for us and our community,” Conn told council.
Moving forward from the current “passive” system, Conn said the new advanced AI can identify potentially suspicious behaviour, like a person getting too close to a business or loitering near a vehicle, sending alerts to police allowing them to respond in real time.
The new cameras will also be equipped with automatic licence plate readers but there is no mugshot recognition within the new AI system. However, the system will use biometrics to determine what Conn calls “facial likeness.
“AI – artificial intelligence – brings us capabilities like we have never seen before,” the chief said. “Instead of finding the incident manually, the system gives us extensive smart options to pro-actively alert to situations as they arise in real time.”
The cameras, which utilize wireless cellular technology, are strategically placed on light poles in areas based on statistics compiled in a recent crime analysis.
“When you consider the ability to respond quicker, potentially deter criminals who know they are being recorded and give our citizens and businesses a new level of safety, the costs pale in comparison to the benefits,” Conn said.
Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew, who also sits on the police service board, moved the recommendations forward with an amendment to include Dresden, Wheatley and Thamesville, in addition to the original plan of installing cameras in Blenheim, Tilbury and Ridgetown, Wallaceburg and more for Chatham.
“This is an excellent tool and I look at it as something that is pro-active,” Crew said, adding she didn’t want any communities to be excluded.
“I believe that we all deserve the same level of service. We are Chatham-Kent. It’s expensive but there’s no getting out of it. How do you put a price tag on your feelings of safety in your community?”
She agreed with other councillors who said “more boots on the ground” are needed, noting the cameras give police another tool.
However, some councillors questioned the cost and scope.
North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville wanted to know why the CCTV expansion wasn’t included in the last police budget.
“With that being said, could we not postpone this and ask us again in the in the next budget deliberations?” she asked.
The chief said it wasn’t in the budget because it was still a pilot project, but noted it needs to go ahead as “time is always of the essence.”
Another councillor thought the proposal too extensive. South Kent Coun. Ryan Doyle said he could see funding Chatham and Wallaceburg, but not the smaller centres.
To date, the CKPS has been successful in procuring more than a $100,000 in provincial funding for the pilot project. Conn said he anticipates the project will continue to receive government funding. However, to pay capital costs for the project, money will need to be pulled from the strategic reserves. Ongoing costs will need to be incorporated into the capital budget.
Information from the cameras is extensively encrypted and stored in Amazon government web cloud storage. Only personnel that have undergone extensive training will be allowed to access the footage, which is stored for 30 days, but can be held longer if necessary. Conn said the CKPS promises to adhere to privacy regulations, noting there have been no Freedom of Information requests over the last 10 months regarding the Chatham cameras. Spot audits on the system will also be conducted.
Signs indicating the area is under surveillance will be posted at each camera location.
An additional three ad hoc cameras will be able to monitor crowds and special events.
