News from Midwest Alarm http://www.midwestalarm.com http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=12 May 21, 2006 Cameras in the Hallways


May 11, 2006

Reprinted with the permission of Leader Courier

Four months after their installation, the Dakota Valley School District is so pleased with the performance of their security camera system that they are making plans to expand the program to all areas of the three school buildings.

Dakota Valley is the third Union County school district to receive Homeland Security grant funds to install a security camera system.

According to Superintendent Al Leber, Dakota Valley joined several other Sioux City metro schools seven years ago on al collective grant to obtain security cameras for their facilities. The funding for the grant did not come about, and most of the schools went their own way over the years to seek funding.

After 9/11 and the creation of the federal Homeland Security Administration, Union County Public Works and Homeland Security Director Raymond Roggow was able to secure federal funding for security cameras for the county’s four school districts plus the Aspire High program in Beresford.

A total of $15,000 was allocated each year for a school district, which could then add additional equipment as is saw fit. By agreement, Elk Point-Jefferson received the first allocation, followed by Alcester-Hudson, Dakota Valley, Beresford and Aspire High. Thanks to unused funds from other areas of the state, the program to install cameras at the schools has been accomplished more quickly than scheduled.

Dakota Valley received its grant funds in the fall of 2005 and contracted with Midwest Alarm of Sioux City for the installation of. Tyler Solma, a Dakota Valley resident and Midwest Alarm representative, assisted school staff members and volunteers with the installation of the system. Working nights and weekends, the system was hooked up by the Christmas holiday break and was in operation when school began again in January.

Sixteen cameras were installed around the high school and middle school building – six outside and five in the hallways of each of the two schools, which are actually one building. One of the outside cameras has the ability to scan a wide area and also zoom in on a subject. Total cost of the project including the federal grant, was $17,800.

Leber said the high school-middle school building was selected for installation of the security cameras because of the amount of after-school activities that take place there and due to past incidents of theft and vandalism in the parking lot.

In at least three instances over the past semester, the cameras have been used to prove the guilt or innocence of a theft from a locker, a student altercation and an act of vandalism on a vehicle in the parking lot.

“We had a situation where two students had an altercation,” Leber said of one of the incidents. “We talked to the students and we got two sides to the story – each had their own story as to what happened. Luckily, the altercation occurred in a location that the video did pick up a majority of what happened as they moved down the hallway and we were able to determine from that who the aggressor was in that confrontation.”

The cameras are on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can store eight to nine days of digital “tape” before starting over. Leber said the tapes are not reviewed on a regular basis, but when needed, such as when a possible incident has occurred and the details need to be confirmed.

The pictures for any of the cameras can be burned onto a CD for future use.

Only selected administrators are allowed to view the cameras and what they record.

“The videos are viewed by the administration and that’s as far as it goes,” said Leber. “We don’t show the videos to anyone else. We talked to our attorney about this when we were installing them and it was recommended that if anyone else wants to see them, they’ll almost have to get a subpoena. Really, we’re not trying to make people jump the hoops, but there is the idea that sometimes the video may have four or five other students also identifiable on these videos and their rights are protected too.”

Since the initial batch of cameras has worked so well, the district is looking into completion of the system at the high school and middle school and installing them at the elementary school. Leber said the greatest cost in the system is the recording device itself, which can handle up to 16 cameras. Since the system already has 16 cameras, another two recorders would be needed.

Leber said the district has allocated $10,000 this year to complete the system in the high school-middle school and would like to set aside around $20,000 next year to put a system in at the elementary school.

“The cameras are a useful tool to help provide safety and security for our building,” said high school principal Jerry Rasmussen. “Just like with any tool, there are limits to their usefulness. We have been able to use them several times since they have been installed and are an additional way to monitor student in the hallways.”

Middle school principal Harlan Halverson echoed those sentiments, saying the cameras have proven beneficial so far in different issues.

PDF]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=11 Jul 18, 2005
Founded in 1967, Midwest Alarm designs, installs, monitors and services security solutions in homes and businesses throughout Siouxland. Midwest Alarm provides thousands of area clients with the most advanced burglar and fire alarms, closed circuit TV, access control, process and environmental monitoring systems. For more information about Midwest Alarm – please visit www.midwestalarm.com.

Press Release PDF]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=8 Oct 11, 2005
Midwest Alarm has hired Ron Bolduan, a 35 year veteran of A&M Radio, as their representative in Aberdeen and Brookings. Ron can be contacted at 800-303-1709.

“We are committed to continuing the personalized customer service that A&M Radio customers have come to expect, while also providing the community with access to the latest technologies to protect their homes and businesses”, says Larry McMillen, President, Midwest Alarm Company.

Founded in 1967, Midwest Alarm is a genuine South Dakota success story that has grown into one of the top alarm companies in the nation. Midwest Alarm designs, installs, monitors and services security solutions in homes and businesses throughout the region. Midwest Alarm provides thousands of clients with the most advanced burglar and fire alarm systems, closed circuit TV, access control, process and environmental monitoring systems.

Press Release PDF]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=4 Apr 15, 2006
"The site redesign reinforces our commitment to providing our customers with tools that will enhance the safety and security of their homes and businesses," said Larry McMillen, President, Midwest Alarm Company.


New features include:

e-Link - Midwest Alarm is excited to offer customers a new online tool that can provide 24 hour a day, 7 day a week access to information in their security systems, through any internet accesible PC.

Customer Service Page - featuring Frequently Asked Questions, Frequently Asked Forms, and Contact Information for frequent requests.

Company News and RSS Feed - Customers can now access Midwest Alarm press releases, newsletters, and product information online. In addition, midwestalarm.com now supports RSS feeds for those customers looking for the latest company and industry news delivered directly to a PC.]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=7 Sep 12, 2005
Press Release PDF]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=5 Apr 11, 2006
Drey, a native of Iona, South Dakota, brings over 8 years of fire safety system experience to Midwest Alarm, with specialties in installation, service and maintenance. Prior to joining Midwest Alarm, Drey worked with Automatic Building Controls.


Chad Weber has joined Midwest Alarm as an Engineered Systems Technician. In this position, Weber will install fire and security protection solutions, throughout the region.

Weber, a native of Mitchell, South Dakota, comes to Midwest Alarm after 6 years with Automatic Building Controls.

Press Release PDF]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=6 May 22, 2006
"This move underscores our commitment to our current and future customers in the Siouxland area. From this location we will be able to provide new levels of accessibility to our services," said Larry McMillen, President, Midwest Alarm Company.

Map to New Sioux City Office

]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=13 Apr 01, 2005 Cameras in high schools increase security, decrease crime (PDF)]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=15 Oct 26, 2005
The Musketeers also have a 360 degree overhead PTZ camera above the center face off circle. Thanks to Tyler Solma at Midwest Alarm, we can literally see every seat and every portion of the ice with this fantastic camera. Currently it's being used to support some of our promotions and to pan the rink during intermissions. The fans absolutely love it! During the game it brings a live overhead shot of each face-off, shots of the penalty boxes, team benches, and various other activities throughout the game. As we work to improve the use of this camera into our games, we'll bring you live shots of the action during the game as well.

USHL.com article]]> http://www.midwestalarm.com/news/?newsid=19 Apr 22, 2008 View the Story Here ]]>