The Columbus Compact Corporation is coordinating a network of security cameras along E. Main Street, on the Near East Side of Columbus.

The cameras, which are installed on six buildings between 17th Street and Wilson Avenue, are networked to a single Digital Video Recorder, and images are uploaded real-time for viewing over the Internet.  A seventh camera will be added to the system in the summer of 2009.

In accordance with the law, the cameras are installed to view public spaces where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.

The primary purpose of this program is to deter criminal activity. Secondary purposes are to aid law enforcement in the identification and prosecution of suspects when crimes occur.

A committee consisting of Compact Board, Staff, and representatives of community organizations (block watches and civic associations) has been assembled to provide guidance and oversight to the project.

The Compact has made this project as a community program.  Real time images are uploaded to the Internet, and available for viewing.  Community residents and business owners who express interest, provide background and reference information, and commit to an hour-long training session, are not just able to view, but they are provided confidential User Names and Passwords, and are given access to the Pan-Tilt-Zoom, Search, and Record functions of the camera system.  One Camera Control Operator taped the assault shown on the following still pictures, and called police who responded almost instantly to stop the assault.  Identification of the assailant was made within an hour as he returned to the scene.  After publication of this video to our YouTube.com channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/EMSCP), this individual has not been seen on the corner since.  Similar videos on our YouTube channel show the power of technology to help community volunteers to make a difference in their neighborhood.  Please note that while we post video of bad behavior as a way of letting people know our eyes are on them if they mess up (and we do provide prosecutorial evidence), these situations are exceptions to the vast majority of video time that shows the boring, normal, everyday and safe activity of the overwhelming numbers of good people in our neighborhood as they work, play, live, and shop in our community.

Through the simple act of keeping the cameras open on their computer screen, Camera Control Operators provide a critical community service, extending the eyes of law enforcement from the comfort of their own homes.  Videotapes and Still Photographs taken by Camera Control Operators and Compact staff has been invaluable and provided to law enforcement has been key evidence in confirming incidents and identifying suspects.

IPR WEB VIEWER

People who are not Camera Control Operators can access a view-only capacity using the IPR Web Viewer.  75 users can access the Web IPR simultaneously (view only).  To access, type the IP address of the IPR into the web address bar (http://74.218.49.10/).  When attempting this for the first time on a computer, a window may open and you will be asked to accept an Active X installation: select “Yes.”  [Note: if you receive a message saying Internet Explorer security settings do not allow you to download Active X, then you will need to adjust the browser security settings.  One way to do this is to add the IP address of the IPR to the trusted sites list inside Internet Explorer.]  

If the above does not work, you may need to adjust some settings in your browser.  For Internet Explorer, click on “Tools” and “Internet Options.”  Click the “Security” tab of the Internet Options page and then "Custom" level.  Ensure the following settings:

Enable - Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompting

Enable – Automatic prompting for ActiveX

Prompt – Download signed ActiveX controls

Prompt – Download unsigned ActiveX controls

Prompt – Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe

Enable – Run ActiveX controls and plug ins

Enable – Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting.

When you get to the blue screen with the red "Go" button, click "Go" and enter "Guest1" as both User ID and Password (no quotes).  You will then be able to view the cameras real-time.  For more information, or to become a Camera Control Operator with Pan-Tilt-Zoom capability, contact Michael Whitfield, at 251-0926 ext. 111, or mwhitfield@colscompact.com.