Tactical Video and Field Operations

The User Experience

Presented ByChief Charles Korman

New Kensington Police Department

Bernard Gollotti, CPPDrexel University Department of Public Safety

Richard Mulvihill County of Atlantic Department of Public Safety

May 21, 2007

Panel Abstract

• There is much talk in the law enforcement community about the use of imagery in support of tactical operations and emergency response. Much of that talk focuses on what the technology can do rather than how the users employ imagery, from images to full motion. Understanding the user experience will allow jurisdictions to make smarter investment decisions on the deployment of video solutions to achieve specific results and objectives.

The OODA Loop

• Col. John Boyd – Ace Pilot

• United States Air Force

• Decision-making occurs in a cycle of: Observe – Orient – Decide - Act

• Orient and react to unfolding events faster than an opponent

• “Get Inside" your opponent's decision making cycle and gain the advantage

Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act

• The speed at which an individual can execute a Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act (OODA) loop is governed by experience, training and the quality of information that is “immediately” available.

• Experience and training are controllable variables that can be continually enhanced.

• Quality information “in the moment” is provided by the tools and established support structures – IC/NIMS.

The OODA Loop

Video Technologies

• Strategically deployed video enhances the decision making process and provides law enforcement agencies with a distinctive advantage during tactical operations and emergency response.

• Visual communications such as video, pictures, and drawings are valuable tools in making “in the moment decisions.”

Video Technologies

• Bad video is bad video!

• Poor camera placement is poor camera placement!

• Visual communication is very sexy, but do not let yourself over indulge!

• At the end of the day it still comes down to how well you planned, prepared, and practiced.

DragonForce

New Kensington Project

• The strategic deployment of CCTV to monitor activities in and around a gymnasium during a “complex” incident.

• Worked directly with the installer to determine camera placement.

• Deployed fixed and PTZ cameras to achieve maximum video coverage.

• System had to be end user friendly and allow remote viewing capabilities.

New Kensington Project

The End User Experience

Drexel University Project

• Leverage an existing network of approximately 300 cameras.

• Provide officers with additional tools set to increase productivity.

• Direct visual communications between dispatch and officers in the field.

• System had to be dependable and easy to use.

Drexel University Project

The End User Experience

Atlantic County

• Atlantic County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provides communications equipment and human resources to facilitate a centralized incident command center during emergency situations in direct support of the county’s four tactical response teams (ACERT).

Atlantic County: Video & DragonForce Integration

Lessons Learned

• Whenever possible law enforcement agencies need to be involved in the planning of video surveillance systems

• Cameras must be placed to provide maximum coverage of critical areas and infrastructure

• Cameras must be vandal resistant or ballistic rated

• Tactical deployment must be fast, reliable and requires out of the box readiness

• Tactical and operational team members are very “visually oriented”

Lessons Learned

• Persistent information is useful. Information that flows from multiple sources is beneficial to team members

• Video allows responders to make informed “in the moment decisions.”

• Professional decision makers – Commanders, team leaders and tactical operatives are highly trained decision makers and are prepared to act and adapt to the consequences of their decisions.

Lessons Learned

• Beware of the used car salesman

• Become an educated consumer

• Video is just another tool to be placed in bag of tricks

• Video supports tactical and operational decisions, technology should not drive the decision making process

Questions?Speaker Information

• Chief Charles Korman

New Kensington Police Department

chiefck@newkensingtons.org

• Bernard D. Gollotti, CPP

Senior Associate Vice President

Drexel University Department of Public Safety

Gollotti@gmail.com

• Richard F. MulvihillCounty of Atlantic Department of Public Safetymulvihill_rick@aclink.org