Upgrading and Integrating Security Systems in County Sheriff’s Department

By Jaime Uchman, director of commercial sales at Johnson Controls

Municipal law enforcement facilities require unique security solutions to ensure comprehensive, 24/7 protection for all occupants. For one county sheriff’s department, an outdated video surveillance system was significantly impacting their ability to provide this elevated degree of safety for employees and visitors. Their analog cameras, many of which were broken, had too many blind spots and visual impairments to accurately assess risk. Without smart search or remote capabilities, going back and combing through video data for one specific incident would take hours, costing valuable time and money. This inefficiency, combined with a lack of integration with access control systems, left occupants vulnerable to theft and assault.

The sheriff’s department needed a partner who could not only provide connected security solutions, but also deliver rapid service response time to ensure all assets were high-performing and ready for anything.

Modernizing security through strategic integration

Johnson Controls security experts got to work updating the facility’s entire security system. They installed Exacq video surveillance solutions and Kantech Access Controls, which were then integrated on a single platform for easy operation and greater connectivity. For improved visibility, they converted all analog cameras to Internet Protocol (IP) cameras to enable remote capabilities and installed 12-megapixel fisheye cameras with audio in every cell block. All existing card readers were integrated into the new system to standardize every security touchpoint.

Delivering real-time visibility for greater risk assessment and accountability

With the new security system in place and all blind spots removed, all department leaders have the ability to monitor cameras from multiple vantage points. This round-the-clock, real-time visibility holds both staff and inmates accountable, while supporting the mental health of employees who can trust they are being fully protected. Department leaders can more easily search through video data to quickly and efficiently access footage that otherwise would take hours to locate. The improvements will also reduce system downtime and minimize costs over time, freeing up time and resources that can be redirected elsewhere.

By upgrading and integrating its security systems, the sheriff’s department is a safer environment for all occupants. To learn more about how Johnson Controls delivers improved security outcomes in local government facilities, visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/industries/local-government.