Can CCTV Systems Help Crisis Management in Mass Shootings?

As school and mass shootings become more prevalent in today’s society, the question is do CCTV systems help with mass shootings? While gun control is the first topic people tend to address when discussing these acts of terror, there is another side to the story that may aid in minimizing the total lives lost in […]

As school and mass shootings become more prevalent in today’s society, the question is do CCTV systems help with mass shootings? While gun control is the first topic people tend to address when discussing these acts of terror, there is another side to the story that may aid in minimizing the total lives lost in these situations sooner than a gun control reform can.

 

One of the most important purposes of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video recordings is to secure a predetermined area using video cameras connected to a video recorder, which in turn creates the video surveillance footage evidence. By using modern technology to allow 911 dispatchers access to these surveillance cameras in emergency situations, we would be allowing the dispatchers to give the first responders accurate, real-time information.

There are changes that need to be made in not only our society but in the world as a whole. But, what can we do right now to minimize the total amount of lives lost when the next mass shooting takes place? What can we do to catch these shooters before more damage is caused? How can we aid first responders and investigators in completing their jobs to the best of their abilities with the best resources possible? In short, we use modern technology to monitor and take control of the situation efficiently and accurately.

History of Mass Shootings

While mass shootings are becoming more frequent (an average of 7 mass shootings a week in 2017, CNN), they are not new to our culture. The FBI defines a “mass murder” as 4 or more victims in a single incident.

The first heavily recorded United States mass murder occurred in September of 1949. Howard Unruh took the lives of 13 people and injured 3 more in the neighborhood of Cramer Hill in Camden, New Jersey. Since that fateful day, the United States has become the country with one of the highest mass shooting rates.

Between 1966 and 2018, there have been 150 mass shootings totaling in 1,077 lives lost. Prior to the 1966 shooting at the University of Texas where 18 lives were lost and 30 people were injured, there were 25 mass shootings from the year 1910. Little is known about these early 20th century killings. Twelve of the deadliest shootings have occurred since 2000, with the deadliest occurring just last year in Las Vegas, Nevada where 58 lives were lost and 500 people were injured at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

CCTV and Modern Technology

CCTV surveillance became widely available in the 1970s. There are now an estimated 30 million surveillance cameras in the United States.

 

In 2009, Chicago became the “most-watched city in the nation” when it linked its estimated 10,000 surveillance cameras with their 911 dispatch center. When a call to 911 comes in, a dispatcher can view a live video of the crime scene as long as it is within 150 feet of a surveillance camera. In the years since Chicago took this initiative, several cities and school districts have followed suit.

 

In 2011, Atlanta, Georgia police began monitoring 100 of the city’s surveillance cameras. Atlanta Public Schools gave access to their surveillance cameras to 911 dispatchers in 2014.

 

In 2013, Howard County, Maryland also linked their school surveillance systems with 911 dispatchers.

 

Near our lab in Rochester Hills, MI, Macomb County is in the process of allowing the Macomb County’s Communications and Technology Center, also known as COMTEC, to gain access to the surveillance systems of all 21 of its school districts.

 

How does this help in the event of a mass shooting? By 911 dispatchers having access to live surveillance footage, they are able to provide first responders with accurate and efficient information. This will then allow the first responders to draft a plan that will quickly eliminate the threat so more lives can be saved.

 

Often, in the midst of a mass shooting, 911 dispatchers receive multiple calls with misinformation. Calls stating multiple shooters are present, the location of the shooter that is not accurate, and even that the shooter has left the premises when they in fact have not. With this technology, the dispatcher will be able to quickly see what information received via inbound calls is accurate and what is not.

 

Surveillance footage is not only helpful during the event, but during the investigation as well. Often, after these tragedies, questions and stories arise of what exactly happened. This is when both CCTV footage and Good Samaritan footage play an integral role. Even if the footage is garbled, pixelated, or otherwise unclear, audio and video forensic experts can enhance the footage so the truth of what transpired can be revealed.

What Can You Do?

Talk to your school principals, district superintendents, local law enforcement, city and state officials, news outlets, local businesses, and neighbors. Educate them about the importance of CCTV technology and how it can help in emergency situations.

 

Educate yourself on what steps to take if you or a loved one find yourselves in the midst of a mass shooting. Get involved in discussions, don’t sit on the sidelines. Express the importance of alternative solutions to gun control law regulations or political arguments.

 

The solutions expressed in this article are simple to understand and easy to express from the laypersons’ perspective. You may even find yourself having a conversation with an expert that would find this information valuable.

Contact an Expert

Primeau Forensics’ works with video recordings in both criminal and civil cases. If you have a video recording that you would like to have entered into evidence in your court case, speak to your lawyer and contact us for a pro bono consultation.