Hinds County Launches First County-Wide Public Safety Camera Initiative in the US

The Hinds County Safety Camera Initiative brings smart camera technology and Brivo Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing to counties, cities, schools, and neighborhoods, to deter crime, accelerate emergency response, and improve safety for citizens and officers.

JACKSON, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hinds County government, business, and law enforcement officials today announced the Hinds County Safety Camera Initiative, making it the first county in the U.S. to implement a comprehensive public safety technology initiative leveraging 911 Camera Sharing.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hinds County Emergency Operations Center, officials said the collaborative effort unites government, educational institutions, churches, businesses, and neighborhood organizations in a community-supported public safety program.

Security cameras throughout Hinds County are equipped with 911 Camera Sharing technology that gives 911 dispatchers instant access to view footage from pre-designated, shareable cameras in the immediate vicinity of the emergency. This real-time visibility multiplies the dispatcher's ability to assess a situation, allowing them to better inform and guide first responders on the ground.

The system has already helped deter illegal dumping in some Hinds County areas, and help law enforcement in investigating criminal incidents.

“The program is specifically designed to use technology in a smart, cost-efficient way to deliver measurable outcomes for residents and safeguard our officers. This is also a way to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations,” said Robert Graham, President of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.

In the initial phase, 72 Brivo Eagle Eye solar-powered security camera cabinets equipped with 911 Camera Sharing, have been installed throughout Hinds County, including the city of Jackson, the town of Terry, eight neighborhood HOAs, one church, and the areas around Jackson State University and Jackson Public Schools.

The Hinds County Safety Camera Initiative is designed to improve:

• Crime & Safety: Deterring crime; increasing officer safety; enhancing student safety.
• Response & Investigation: Accelerating emergency response and incident investigation.
• Community & Quality of Life: Reducing illegal dumping and improving neighborhood cleanliness; amplifying neighborhood pride and confidence.

Cameras participating in the Hinds County Safety Camera Initiative are not available for public viewing and are not continuously monitored. Camera video access is limited to trained 911 professionals and only available during a verified emergency involving a location with a participating camera that has been authorized for sharing. The dispatcher cannot access camera credentials, make any changes to the system, or download footage, ensuring privacy and security.

Designed and installed by Wilson Technology, Inc., a Jackson, Miss.-based security integration firm, the safety camera system is inclusive and expandable. Any business, school, or house of worship can join the program, regardless of whether they are existing Brivo Eagle Eye customers. Organizations do not need to purchase new cameras to join the program. The more cameras and organizations that sign on, the stronger the 911 Camera Sharing initiative becomes.

“Wilson Technology is committed to the safety and security of our community and our state, which is why we’re actively working with other local businesses to join the Hinds County Safety Camera Initiative. We are also working with other Mississippi counties, municipalities, and universities, which have seen the success of the Hinds County project," said Fredrick Wilson, CEO of Wilson Technology Inc.

“The Hinds County Camera Safety Initiative is a powerful model for other jurisdictions seeking to unite their communities and technology for modern public safety, which reflects the vision of our company and this product,” said Dean Drako, CEO of Brivo.

About Brivo

Brivo is the global leader in cloud-native AI-driven physical security, with more than 2 million devices deployed across 100,000+ locations in 80 countries. The flagship product, Brivo Security Suite, unifies access control, video intelligence, visitor management, and intrusion into a single view to centralize security across the enterprise. Businesses use Brivo’s AI-powered unified security platform to proactively detect and deter threats, improve operations, reduce liability, comply with regulations, increase sales, and maximize profits. The pioneer in both cloud-native access control and video surveillance, Brivo is trusted by more than 25 million users across the globe to protect people, property, and digital assets. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and Austin, Texas, Brivo has additional offices in Lehi, Utah; Amsterdam; Bangalore; London; and Tokyo. Learn more at brivo.com.

Brivo recently merged with Eagle Eye Networks. Please visit een.com to learn more about the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS (video management system) and its AI-powered video intelligence capabilities.

About Brivo Eagle Eye 911 Camera Sharing

911 Camera Sharing is a first-of-its-kind technology that gives Emergency Communication Center telecommunicators (911 professionals) instant access to security cameras, empowering them to deliver critical incident information to first responders during an emergency. A recent survey showed that 96% of parents in the US want to mandate camera sharing during emergencies in K-12 schools. 911 Camera Sharing has won six security industry awards including: Security Sales & Integration Trend-Setting Technology Award, SecurityInfoWatch Readers’ Choice Award, Security Today New Product of the Year, Campus Safety BEST Award, Secure Campus Award, and ESX Innovation Award.