Chester purchases security camera system after successful trial

From left, Chester Police Chief Chuck Stanley, Chester Assistant Police Chief Ethan Skolrud pose next to a demo case for the Verkada security camera system that they are using successfully in the City of Chester with Advanced Security Technologies’ (AST) James Padula, director of sales and business development; and company co-owners Donald Tharp and Austin Hughes. The Chester-based security company had been testing the system with city officials, who later would go onto purchase the system Monday night after a monthlong successful trial. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
CHESTER — The city quickly is becoming a trailblazer thanks to some carefully positioned security cameras at key intersections coming in and going out of town. For the past month or so, the city of Chester has been demonstrating a security camera system that has led to resolving criminal incidents within hours instead of weeks.
According to Chester Police Chief Chuck Stanley, Advanced Security Technologies (ASF) has erected five Verkada outdoor security camera systems on poles as part of the operation, which already have provided key footage in a car theft at Chaney’s on Jan. 17 and hit-and-run vehicle accident on Main Street at the beginning of February.
On Jan. 17, a camera near the teapot was not only able to capture footage of the vehicle theft but a direction of travel across the Jennings-Randolph bridge into East Liverpool.
The alleged perpetrator was eventually tracked to Salineville and to Jefferson County, where he was captured by sheriff’s deputies to be extradited back to West Virginia.
In the most recent incident, investigators were able to dispel a Warren man’s story that his vehicle was stolen while he was celebrating his birthday at Mountaineer Casino and that it was the robber who was involved in seriously damaging two parked cars while traveling through downtown Chester.
When confronted based on footage timestamps from a camera going out of town that way, the man admitted guilt to Chester police and charges are pending.
Word is spreading about the cameras’ successful demo and other agencies are investigating acquision of the technology, which based on the level acquired can even do facial recognition in some cases, according to AST officials.
East Liverpool and Weirton city officials have inquired about the technology, explained James Padula, director of sales and business development for AST.
During their Chester council meeting Monday, members approved the purchase of their last two cameras, mounts and licenses as well as the viewing stations at a cost of $5,185.50.
For Wedgewood, acquisition of the technology is a no-brainer especially considering the assistance it gives first responders.
Agencies these days are struggling to fully staffed and that is further complicated as police officers cannot be everywhere especially in small towns.
Chester spent $15,635.50 adding the additional five cameras, mounts, a viewing station and three-year equipment licenses to their existing camera system for the municipal building, explained city clerk Tara Ayers.
Agencies and schools working together on cases also have easy access to the cloud-based system via their monitors or even cell phones if both using the same service in their locations via cloud.
The quality of the footage image is a big part of why it works so well — especially when combined with the power of social media.
This is definitely not your grandmother’s security cameras, which produced pixelated images with an inability to view details like tattoos amid a blurry shape.
The ability to view a facial tattoo clearly prouder to be key to identifying the perpetrator in the Jan. 17 car theft incident and bringing him to justice quickly.
“Our goal is to make tested and proven leading edge technology available for the Tri-State area,” Tharp concluded.
For information about AST and specifically the Verkada cloud-based security system, call 412-206-1060 or visit astadvancedsecurity.com.
sujhelyi@mojonews.com