infoTECH Feature

April 19, 2013

Boston Marathon Bombing Latest: Video Surveillance to the Rescue

If you’ve ever questioned the value of video surveillance, ponder no more, as an outdoor sidewalk surveillance camera from Lord & Taylor has provided law enforcement with clear pictures of the two suspects wanted in connection with the bombings that killed three and injured dozens more at the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon.

See for yourself here.

ROIs, liability avoidance and asset protection have been increasingly used to justify video surveillance application for businesses and consumers. But when surveillance drives the pursuit of potential terrorists in the name of national security, the value of video comes to the very fore on a global stage.

Suspect Pictures Released

Last night, the FBI and its massive law enforcement mega-team released pictures of the two young, backpack-carrying males suspected in delivering the bombs that threw the City of Boston into chaos just minutes before the explosions rocked the route and our attention.

The agency released clear photos and video of the two individuals.

It appears one or two surveillance cameras, which are hardly pricey, pointed out onto the sidewalk provided the color photos and video released by the FBI. Though perhaps not intended for law enforcement applications, the ROI is still too large to ever be measured.

In the immediate aftermath of the bombings Monday, countless entities seeking the criminals asked all those attending the event or nearby to review pictures or video they took and submit all that may be of use to the FBI-lead team.

Cameras Everywhere

Sitting just 20 miles west of the bombings, I hoped and believed that video in and around the finish line would come into play in the effort to identify suspects. That’s because video is almost literally everywhere. Inside buildings, outside them, at traffic intersections, inside ATMs, in the hands of fans and on the dashboards of vehicles.

At this relatively early stage, it’s noteworthy that it was a video surveillance camera that won the day, not the sea of TV cameras covering the annual event from many angles, especially at the finish line. It’s possible that additional pictures and video – from other sources –will come into play in this national effort. The more the merrier.

Though this is a landmark moment in bringing those behind the bombing to justice, there’s more to be done. You may not like the idea of cameras everywhere, but if one results in my receiving a traffic violation, I’ll be thankful, not angry.

The greater good – especially with this deadly and troubling tragedy – comes first and foremost.

That should put the “V” back in the value of video surveillance.

A picture is worth way more than a thousand words, especially here in Eastern Massachusetts today.




Edited by Braden Becker
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