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Volume 41, Issue 12. Today is .

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Volume 41, Issue 12

April 6, 2004

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April 6, 2004

Security camera advantages: plate numbers, close-ups
Delynn Bodine
Mesa Legend

Big Brother is watching – at least, MCC College Safety will be. From the football field to the library, from the parking lot to class, College Safety will be able to see all the comings and goings of students and others on campus with a new security camera system.
According to Captain Lynn Bray of College Safety, these cameras will provide added security to MCC’s already-safe campus. He said the 27 digital cameras currently being installed around campus have a 24-power zoom capability and are able to provide license plate numbers and facial close-ups from across a parking lot. He anticipates that the installation will be completed by mid to late April.
Officers will be able to monitor up to 20 cameras at one time. Training and shift rotation will keep eye fatigue to a minimum. All camera images will be recorded on a central database and will prove helpful in the prosecution of criminal activity.
Security officers are on duty around the clock to keep the campus safe. Students need to be aware of their surroundings and contact security officers with any concerns, Bray said. He also said security is such a high priority that officers are available to escort students to their cars and assist with a flat tire or dead battery if needed.
Bray also encourages students to take note of where the emergency call boxes are located in the parking lot and around campus. These phones connect the caller directly with College Safety and are identified with a blue light above the box.
MCC boasts one of the lowest crime rates on college campuses in the nation. Two to three car break-ins a month and bicycle thefts seem to be the primary criminal activity on campus.
“My officers are doing such a great job, I walk around with a smile on my face,” Bray said.
He anticipates that the campus crime rate will continue to decline with the new camera system.