City Unplugs Camera Software (This time Tampa)

[Noordam]

Tampa Tribune

City Unplugs Camera Software
By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
[e-mail]

TAMPA - The Tampa Police Department has eliminated the facial-recognition software hooked up to cameras scanning crowds in Ybor City - after two years, zero arrests and zero positive identifications.
The software, provided to the city free by its manufacturer, was intended to recognize the facial characteristics of felons and runaway children through a database of more than 24,000 mug shots. It was shut down Tuesday, having failed in its objective.

``It's just proven not to have any benefit to us,'' said Capt. Bob Guidara, a department spokesman.

The 36 surveillance cameras, which were installed a few years before the facial-recognition software, will remain. Police spokesman Joe Durkin said the software might not work but the cameras have led to several arrests.

``Officers have been able to make arrests involving illegal drug dealing, fights and things of that nature,'' Durkin said. ``One officer monitoring the cameras has been able to be the eyes of many in foiling this type of activity.''

<....more at article....>

[revcarol]

1. How do the "conservative" citizens of Tampa like this invasion of

their privacy?/////Oops, this is only for the poor people....

[Gin]

2. My town...Va Beach paid for the stupid things....GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

.

[Noordam]

4. You mean the tough on crime conservative citizens

They were all for it. The cameras were in the bar and party part of town (Ybor City) and mainly younger people there on a Friday/Saturday night.

And very few false postives. I do not think the police have be using this for months. A big waste of time.

[soup]

3. So, they shut it down.

OR they just want people to think they shut it down?

It's too early in the day for me to be this paranoid.
OR I just said that so people won't think I'm completely insane.


Found this odd-
"Although Tampa has had the system for two years, it was not in use for four months at the end of 2001. No explanation for the lack of use was released."


Has the system worked in Virginia Beach? Any arrests there?


making a pledge to myself- I will NEVER again read an article on Ashcroft's 'VICTORY Act' first thing in the morning.
NOR visit http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/ on less than a full cup of coffee.