Atlanta Mayor Orders Review Of City’s Video Integration Center

From the City of Atlanta:

October 29, 2020

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an Administrative Order directing a full assessment of the operation, location and coverage of all cameras integrated into the City’s Video Integration Center (VIC) in coordination with the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF). The VIC was launched in 2007 as part of Operation Shield—a collaboration between the City and private partners to harness technology to enhance emergency preparedness, better provide Atlanta’s first responders real-time situational awareness and further enhance Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) and Atlanta Police Department (APD) response times.

“As the City pushes for progress in modern policing, the leveraging of technology must be part of the dialogue,” said Mayor Bottoms. “Knowing the full scope of available resources is expected to shorten firefighter, police and emergency medical personnel response times and provide real-time information during emergency situations.”

The Administrative Order directs:

• The Chief Operating Officer to coordinate with the interim Chief of Police and the Atlanta Police Foundation to conduct an examination of the operation, location and coverage of all cameras integrated into the CIV; and
• Calls for an assessment of the technical relevance of all VIC integrated cameras, including a review of the operational status of each camera owned and operated by the City of Atlanta, and a review of all outstanding VIC integration memoranda of understanding.

This press release was produced by the City of Atlanta. The views expressed are the author's own.