Wilmington Police seeking real-time camera center

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department is asking the city to approve a $196,000 real-time camera center.

Police Chief Ralph Evangelous said these centers already exist in a handful of cities across the country including Raleigh and Albuquerque. Evangelous said the center would allow police more access to public and private databases including surveillance cameras and social media.

Wilmington Business Owner Poodle Lockhart said she has noticed lots of change downtown since she opened 17 years ago.

“With all the crime that we’ve had in the past 15 years,” Lockhart said.

That is why Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous wants a real-time camera center.

“It really gives us a whole new dimension in how we respond to crimes in progress,” Evangelous said.

The facility would be called the STING, Situational Tactics & Intelligence Nexus Group, Center. He said the $196,000 operation would give police more data access.

“We’ll have the ability to data dip into about 20 to 25 different databases with one name, address or vehicle search,” Evangelous said.

Evangelous said police would also be able to monitor cameras across the city.

“For example, let’s say we had a shooting occur at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning,” Evangelous said. “We’ll be able to pull up those traffic cameras immediately as this is occurring before the officers even arrive and be able to see who is coming and going from the areas and be able to push out that information in real-time.”

He said that also includes private cameras in businesses if police get permission to use them.

“Banks, convenience stores, gas stations,” Evangelous said.

That is not all. Police will also be able to tap into social media.

“Real- time as things are occurring to see what is popping up and what people are saying,” Evangelous said.

City council will have the final say on the project, but Lockhart said the port city needs it.

“I think we need all the help that we can get,” Lockhart said.

Evangelous said if city council approves the center it would take at least three months to build the facility. He also said he would need to hire three full time positions and two part time positions to monitor the data.