Columbia police discuss surveillance footage program
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Police Department and the Downtown Columbia Leadership Council will meet Wednesday to discuss implementing a surveillance software platform.
The software Fusus is for law enforcement and allows police to have access to both public and private surveillance cameras, body-worn cameras, drones and other feeds throughout the city on a permission-based level and on a voluntary participation basis.
With permission, CPD could have access to surveillance from businesses, the downtown district, and schools.
"For example, if we were responding to an active shooter situation in a school while responding we'd be able to access the cameras," Brian Richenberger, Special Services Commander with CPD said.
It would cost the city $315,000 from the Asset Forfeiture Fund to Police Budget to purchase Fusus Real-Time Crime Center System.
Fusus allows police to have immediate access to video feeds while responding to emergencies and other responses.
Carlos Campano, Sales Rep for Fusus with a 24-year history in law enforcement spoke to city leaders Wednesday, calling the Fusus Cloud an efficient way to solve crimes.
"We can pull up videos of those crimes in progress while those officers are responding," Campano said.
Campano said the Atlanta Police Department had seen some success solving violent crimes using the system.
Businesses or school districts in city limits could give CPD constant access to live stream or partial access in case of an emergency.
"Everything is permission based there's no way for a police department to get into any videos without these permissions that are all set up," Campano said.
A school may choose to give police limited access to only active shooter situations.
CPD will not be able to access people's home or Ring Security cameras through Fusus.
In order to activate Fusus, you plug what's called an Internet Core into your surveillance camera. The core costs $200. Nickie Davis with The Downtown District CID said they were working to help pay for businesses to get the core.
The proposal is for a three-year contract that would be paid upfront. After three years, if a renewal is requested, it would cost approximately $125,000 per year in 2026.
