Rutherford Police Department Modernizes Public Safety With Unified Video and Access Control

Axis Communications technology helps Rutherford PD improve situational awareness, streamline investigations, and enhance officer safety

CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axis Communications today announced the Rutherford Police Department’s deployment of a unified video and access control solution to strengthen public safety in Rutherford, New Jersey. Working with Axis partner GTBM, the department replaced fragmented legacy systems with an integrated security ecosystem powered by AXIS Camera Station Pro.

Along the critical Route 3 corridor, the department deployed an Axis pan/tilt/zoom camera featuring ARTPEC-9 system-on-chip technology and the AV1 compression codec. By leveraging AV1 video compression technology, the solution has helped RPD reduce video bandwidth and storage consumption by approximately 20% – lowering the resources needed to manage large volumes of high-quality video evidence.

The deployment began with approximately 70 network cameras at the department’s new headquarters and has expanded to support security technology deployed throughout the Borough. Located near New York City and MetLife Stadium, Rutherford is a busy transit corridor, particularly during major sporting and entertainment events. With a lean force and frequent large-scale events, the department needed technology its officers could adopt quickly and use with confidence while maximizing public safety resources.

“Watching how my team utilizes the new system reinforces my belief that I chose the right solution,” said John Russo, retired police chief, Rutherford Police Department. “It is by far the most user-friendly platform we have. My personnel actually enjoy sitting down and pulling up videos and trying to enhance their investigation because it's easy to use.”

A unified approach to public safety

GTBM designed an end-to-end video and access control solution for the RPD’s new headquarters, powered by AXIS Camera Station Pro. The Video Management System (VMS) manages a significant number of integrated security enhancements made throughout the facility, including:

• 70 network cameras installed throughout the interior and exterior of the building
• Door controllers and key fob readers for entry to secure areas
• Network video intercoms at secure access points, enabling visual verification of visitors and remote door release

Following the headquarters deployment, RPD expanded its camera network into parks and other public spaces. To manage and investigate footage across its network, RPD uses AXIS Camera Station Pro’s forensic smart search capabilities to quickly locate relevant video based on people, vehicles, colors, objects, and other attributes, reducing the need to manually review hours of footage.

Reducing bandwidth and supporting faster response

AV1 compression has helped RPD reduce the resources required to store and transmit video while maintaining image resolution. That reduction gives RPD more flexibility to retain larger volumes of high-resolution across its camera network, helping investigators access more footage when it’s needed as evidence.

The unified system also significantly enhances real-time awareness, with analytics like weapon detection providing critical context during dangerous situations. RPD personnel can also combine video footage, door access logs, and targeted searches within the VMS to build a complete picture of incidents. The department uses video evidence to provide objective records of police interactions and public gatherings, supporting transparency and community trust.

“The Rutherford Police Department shows how public safety agencies can extend the value of their video infrastructure as their needs grow,” said Dean Cunningham, segment development manager, Public Safety, Americas, Axis Communications. “By bringing video, access control, and intelligent search capabilities together, RPD can use the same security ecosystem to address everything from securing its headquarters to monitoring traffic and supporting investigations across the community.”

To learn more about how the Rutherford Police Department uses Axis technology to improve public safety, situational awareness, and investigations, read the customer story: https://www.axis.com/customer-story/rutherford-police-vms-av1

About Axis Communications

Axis enables a smarter and safer world by improving security, safety, operational efficiency, and business intelligence. As a network technology company and industry leader, Axis offers video surveillance, access control, intercoms, and audio solutions. These are enhanced by intelligent analytics applications and supported by high-quality training. Axis has around 5,000 dedicated employees in over 50 countries and collaborates with technology and system integration partners worldwide to deliver customer solutions. Axis was founded in 1984, and the headquarters are in Lund, Sweden.