Prairie’s video camera project continues to evolve
By Ted Pennekamp
This past summer, the city of Prairie du Chien began working toward installing video cameras at various locations to improve security and safety, and the project is continuing.
Police Chief Kyle Teynor said the cameras have now been placed or are in the process of being placed.
“They are currently located at Blackhawk/Beaumont, Blackhawk/Main, and the Main/Wisconsin Street intersections,” said Teynor. “The Main/Iowa intersection will be done in the near future.”
Teynor also said the Crawford County Children’s Advisory Board donated the funds to provide a camera at the Skate Park which is up and active. Prior to this coming summer’s swimming season, additional cameras will be installed to cover the Charles Wacouta Aquatic Center and Fort Fun, he said.
In addition, cameras were installed on the inside and outside of City Hall.
“The interior and exterior cameras at City Hall are also operational,” said Teynor. “There were also panic alarms installed at City Hall that provide alerts to police and other city staff when activated. The live and recorded video is accessible to police department employees and City Hall employees and are monitored live in the Crawford County Communications Center.”
Teynor said the camera system has been used in several theft complaints to track the movement of stolen property. The cameras have also been utilized in locating a drunk driver reported in the downtown area and solved a damage to property case to a business in the downtown.
Teynor explained that the total cost for the City Hall project and the wireless infostructure to allow live monitoring and recording from remote locations was $35,309 and was paid for using Police Department Capital Funds. All exterior cameras not related to the City Hall portion of the project were funded through grants awarded to the police department from the Department of Justice in the amount of $34,638.
Teynor also noted, “We have utilized partnerships with the school district and the local radio station to provide support for antenna and receiver infostructure.”
The video camera system project is ongoing and continues to evolve.
“I would say that the project may never be ‘completed,’” said Teynor. “We have goals to continue to expand to other parks, city water and sewer infostructure, and downtown intersections, and we would really like to partner with businesses in a cost sharing relationship to help secure the exterior of their business to deter and better respond to criminal activity.”
Teynor noted that if businesses are interested, they can call Chief of Police Kyle Teynor at 608-326-2421.
