Four camera surveillance PODS coming to a city near you

MassPrivateI

Welcome to Police State America, where one camera surveillance system is never enough.

Since 2003, law enforcement has been installing four camera Police Observation Devices or PODS as they are typically referred to; at intersections and buildings across the country. 

“In July of 2003, the Chicago Police Department unveiled a revolutionary pilot program using specially developed and customized technology…This technology used remote-controlled and viewable cameras called Police Observation Devices – commonly referred to as PODs – positioned to view and record potential crime in high-risk areas.”

Police are buying PODS from a company called Security Lines US.

“Security Lines US specializes in custom surveillance systems. We design and build systems that help solve many issues that businesses, cities and law reinforcement face today.”

According to an article in the Elk Grove Citizen, each POD costs taxpayers $11,000-$13,000.

While PODS may have started in Chicago, they are by no means the only police department using them.

Below, is a brief list of police departments currently using PODS to spy on everyone.

Santa Maria 
Sacramento
Paso Robles
Modesto
San Luis Obispo
Woodland
Austin
Dallas
Kent
Arroyo Grande
Elk Grove

What are police using PODS for?

A Chicago Police Department flyer claims PODS have been used to arrest people for things like gambling on a street and public drinking!

“Officers in the District use PODS to seek out illegal activity – from Drinking Upon The Public Way to Gambling, from Selling Drugs to Armed Violence.” 

Why are police and politicians wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars on another surveillance system?

Elk Grove Vice Mayor Steve Detrick, reveals the real reason police are installing PODS.

“If we can eventually, with surveillance, cover every major intersection in the city of Elk Grove, I think that would be phenomenal,” he said. “And the entry and exit to every major neighborhood, I think that would be a huge turn, and obviously a great asset…”

Elk Grove’s Police Chief Bryan Noblett said, we have to be ‘strategic and considerate about how we that.’

What he is really saying is, police have to strategically place their PODS where they will cause the least amount of public outcry.

Police are already using ShotSpotter and Smart Node spying street lights along with Virtual Block Watch CCTV cameras to spy on everyone. So why do we need another one?

And who is going to pay for it?

Police departments are giving new meaning to ‘buy local, eat local.’

Local law enforcement uses many sources to find funds to purchase more PODS. Like DHS, Corrections Departments and Citizens Option For Public Safety. But none are more disturbing than asking local businesses to sponsor more government surveillance.

A recent Santa Maria Times article reveals, that local businesses are sponsoring PODS.

“They made the purchase and brought it to their neighborhood. Some of the cameras are focused on their business to provide safety and security for their business. Other cameras in the pod are focused on other public areas Santa Maria Police Lt. Russ Mengel said.”

It is the same tired old story being played out across the country. Police and policeiticans (politicians who support police agendas) claim we need more surveillance to keep everyone safe.

Don’t believe them and the next time you buy or eat local, ask them if they are helping big brother spy on us.

https://massprivatei.blogspot.com/2017/11/four-camera-surveillance-pods-coming-to.html