Other communities take look at Ripon's surveillance system

By RICHARD T. ESTRADA
restrada@modbee.com

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RIPON -- When you've got a good thing going, it's usually fun to share it with someone else. That's been Ripon's approach with its real-time video system, a network of 76 cameras scattered across the city and monitored by the Police Department.

"We regularly have people coming through, asking questions about the system, the equipment, the reliability," said Dan Brannon, the Police Department employee who maintains the system. "We recently had the Port of Oakland, and people from Salinas and Hanford come in, because they're thinking about installing cameras."

The city of Modesto could be calling soon. It's exploring whether to allow surveillance cameras downtown and in La Loma Park, and Ripon can provide plenty of time- and money-saving suggestions.

Brannon and others who are integral to the system's success are only too happy to talk about their cameras, which have been credited for solving crimes and proving that other crimes never took place.

The system also saves money and improves officer safety, the city says. Depending on the location in town, dispatchers can visually confirm an incident is taking place and observe officers on the scene.

The city installed its first 25 cameras in 2005. Its initial investment was about $550,000, and the number of cameras has tripled over the past two years. There are an additional 20 cameras in police cars.

"Cameras will never replace the impact of having an officer in a police car," communications supervisor Linda Johnston said. "They're another tool that we can use to help keep our residents safe. It's not one or the other, but the combination of having both of them."

Bee staff writer Richard T. Estrada can be reached at restrada@modbee.com or 578-2304.