Metro Adds Eye-In-the-Sky Security

Portable, “eye-in-the-sky” surveillance towers will be placed at four light-rail stations as part of security features being introduced throughout Metro’s public transit system.

Cameras mounted on SkyWatch towers will provide surveillance at the Willow, Aviation, Culver City and Heritage Square stations.

The security towers can also be towed to other stations if necessary. The towers were purchased with a $479,215 California Transit Security Grant.

Another $5.1 million from the same grant has also allowed Metro to install security kiosks at the Willow, Crenshaw, Aviation, La Cienega, North Hollywood, Expo Power Sub Station, Wilshire/Western, Seventh/Flower and Hollywood/Highland stations.

The kiosks can be used by security personnel and sheriff’s deputies, and are outfitted with landline phones, two-way radios, computer work stations and closed-circuit television displays.

Sheriff’s deputies now also have the ability to use smartphones or tablets to view real-time video from surveillance cameras placed at Metro’s public transportation facilities.

In the future, this technology also could allow security officers to view video footage from inside rail cars or buses, Metro officials said.

-City News Service; Metro via Wikimedia Commons