The Chatham-Kent Police Service is embarking on security enhancements for its downtown Chatham headquarters and outlying stations.
Police are adding security cameras and secure door access and alarms to some of the buildings at a total cost of nearly $140,000. The security additions will begin in phases early next year. Police said the substations in Wallaceburg, Ridgetown, Blenheim, Tilbury and the Dillon Road facility lack adequate security and video surveillance and in order to follow standards, each station needs an enhanced door code access system and security camera monitoring system. An internal review identified the door code access system currently in place at all police stations is old and outdated and does not allow for proper tracking of individuals throughout the building.
"Over the last several years we have experienced an increase in acts of mischief to staff property. We currently have no self contained surveillance system at any CKPS substations and the secure door access keypad system is over twenty years old," stated a report presented at the police services board Tuesday morning.
Inspector Kirk Earley told the board that the idea is to eventually add facial recognition identification for police personnel.
"As the Chatham-Kent Police Service continues to change and adapt to the ever-growing needs of our community and police service, so does the need to analyze the safety and security of our police buildings," stated Earley's board report. "As an organization we must ensure we have the capability to monitor and maintain safety and security of police buildings, property and personnel."
The current security system software also needs to be upgraded.
"We live in an age of computer hacking, and a wide variety of sophisticated internet, technological crimes threaten the very safety, security and integrity of police information systems," the report said. "There are very strict guidelines and security expectations from law enforcement agencies and police intelligence providers to ensure that these information systems are not compromised."