CQ Politics | Innovations - 'Lots of Technology' Deployed To Keep the Peace at the Convention

'Lots of Technology' Deployed To Keep the Peace at the Convention

August 25, 2008 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Drew Armstrong, CQ Staff

A three-dimensional tabletop map stands before an eight-foot by eight-foot video screen displaying a map of downtown Denver at the United States Secret Service's Denver Multi Agency Communications (Command) Center. The command center will allow 62 federal and local agencies to monitor and record everything related to the Democratic National Convention. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

DENVER -- Officials are keeping a lid on the technologies they will use to keep convention-goers safe, but the city has been spending heavily on security equipment and technology ahead of the event.

"You're going to have lots of additional capabilities brought to it, lots of technology deployed throughout Denver," said P.J. Crowley, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a terrorism and security expert.

The city already has an extensive traffic and security camera network that it will use to keep an eye on things, but has entered into a $1 million contract with security firm Avrio Group to beef up capabilities.

"We've had cameras around the city, to keep an eye on what's going on," said Jackson. "Our biggest concern is public safety."

The new cameras will be added to Denver's High Activity Location Observation (HALO) system. Denver officials would not say how many new cameras they will install.

According to the Colorado chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been seeking information on law enforcement groups' plans, most of the new cameras will be located downtown and around the Pepsi Center.

Mark Jules, president of business development for Avrio, would not specify what type of network will be in place. Secret Service and Denver Police officials would not discuss details of any of the technologies they will be deploying, either -- citing concerns about revealing anything to those hoping to circumvent them.

"I can't really get into it," said Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson. Whatever the best practices are, we'll use them."

But Jules detailed many of the new surveillance system's capabilities.

The security cameras can be quickly set up on lamp posts or other surveillance points.

Powered either through an electrical hookup or a solar panel, the cameras can transmit their feed via wireless back to a central hub. From there, the software can beam the images to police and other security personnel, either in a patrol car or to a handheld unit.

It has other capabilities as well -- the video software can recognize a car parked somewhere it should not be, a bag left unattended, or a person walking in a restricted area. The software can then alert security personnel to take a closer look. Jules would not specify whether the Denver system would have that capability. The system can also be linked to other sensors, such as gunshot detectors or environmental screeners that are looking for chemicals.

The ACLU has doubts about the usefulness of the extensive surveillance network.
"They have told us that they will keep the video tapes for not more than 30 days, and that the video cameras will not be able to look into apartments or store windows," said Colorado ACLU Executive Director Cathryn Hazuri. "They don't prevent crime. They may help catch somebody . . . but what it does is drive the crime into a different area," Hazuri said.

Most of what convention-goers see will be at the entrance gates: the same kinds of metal detectors and baggage scanning machines used at airports.

Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley said security personnel will also be doing environmental screening, using devices to monitor the air and water, scanning for biological or chemical agents.

To keep an eye on a possible disease outbreak, the CDC has been working with public health officials in Denver and will be ready to send more assistance, if needed.

Other security purchases by the city -- largely funded through a $50 million federal security grant -- are more run of the mill.

Denver police are spending $2.1 million on "personal protection equipment" like body armor and shields. Another $215,000 has been spent on a "BearCat" armored vehicle. Made by Lenco Armored vehicles, it is used by SWAT and military personnel as an armored transport and tactical vehicle.