East Lansdowne police begin using AI cameras to track criminals in public spaces

Police cameras are not new, but in one small borough in Delaware County, they are not just seeing people, but are also tracking their movements in real time.

The department has already put up more than half of the 41 planned AI public safety cameras that will monitor roadways and sidewalks in the borough.

“There’s public monuments. We have parking lots; municipal parking lots,” Cadden said.

Cadden gave NBC10 a look at the new technology, which he said is helping officers track criminals and keep residents and visitors safe.

“What it does and all that it does is allow for a powerful, quick review of people, vehicles and things that are moving within that time frame,” said Chief of the East Lansdowne Police Department, James Cadden.

The AI cameras are not recording inside private residences or businesses, Cadden said

“In this case, it covered a person’s window,” he said while showing NBC10 an example of windows being covered.

In addition to tracking, the AI cameras improve police response times by giving the department the ability to see what’s happening at a scene before officers arrive, Cadden said. And, if an incident is reported, the technology cuts down on the time it takes to review footage and identify key pieces of evidence.

Officers can even use key words to narrow their search results, Cadden said.

“And it sees what they were doing immediately without having to go through the scrolling back and back, and, ‘Oh, I went too far,’”‘ Cadden said. “Let me go back and who is this person and what are they doing?”

Cadden said he understands people who have concerns about constantly being on camera, but assured them that the cameras do not take in all of a person’s information.

“It does not biometrically scan your face,” Cadden said. “It does not read your license plate number.”

Once all 41 cameras are installed, Cadden said it will be hard-pressed for anyone not to be seen entering or leaving East Lansdowne.