At the beautiful Community Watch offices in the Key Largo District Office Building on Bonita Boulevard Monday afternoon, a tiny simulated spark symbolized much improved security for The Villages community north of County Road 466.
In lieu of The Villages’ typical ribbon cutting ceremonies, with yellow tape and giant scissors, Amenity Authority Committee member, Carl Bell, who has championed this undertaking for more than three years, held the ends of two yellow fiber optic cables together to celebrate the official inauguration of gate camera linkage. Pretending to feel an electric spark shock while holding the yellow wire were Brian Lifsey, from Seniors vs. Crime; Lady Lake Mayor Ruth Kussard; Don Deakin, Carl Bell and John Wilcox from the AAC and District Manager, Janet Tutt.
Very clear, detailed images from the newly installed gate cameras were shown on a monitor, with infra-red capability for clear night viewing — even during rainstorms — and now, all the gate cameras are linked, and can share the excellent images, which are typically stored for thirty days. This is a vast improvement over previous gate security, and will soon be even more actionable, as linkages are nearing completion with area sheriff’s offices and local law enforcement.
Among the leaders of Villages District Staff departments at the demonstration were Sam Wartinbee, David Miles, Barbara Kays, Diane Tucker and Janet Tutt’s executive assistant, Brittany Wilson. The excellent work of John Ferrell, Chad Rich, Ralph Minchew and Maria Burns, specialists from The Villages Technology Solutions Group (TSG), was recognized with applause.
“When we first started talking about this project and how the fiber optic linkage would work,” AAC member Carl Bell said, “some folks understood, but we were also met with a lot of blank stares — quite a few ‘deer in the headlights’ looks. But this technology has become more and more mainstream, and we can all reap the benefits of improved community security — to feel safer in our homes — and because the system uses voiceover internet provider telephone lines, the return on investment will be very quick.”
Currently, the system records 20 frames per second (FPS), but can be upgraded to 30-40 FPS if desired. (By way of comparison, standard video employs 30 FPS.)
Bill Elliott, from Travers City, Mich., who recently took over leadership of Community Watch after Scott Wilder’s retirement, was very impressed and pleased with the developments.
Although The Villages has traditionally maintained manned and un-manned entry and exit gates with security cameras, persons and vehicles approaching the gates could not legally be denied entry, since the major thoroughfares in the Lake and Sumter County portions of the community are maintained by the counties with county funds. (The districts in the Marion County portion of The Villages and all Villa community roads are supported by individual Villages district funds.)
New signage announcing 24/7 video surveillance, and the new state-of-the-art cameras delivering clear images of people, vehicles and license tags entering and exiting the gates, truly make the community more secure. While crime remains very low in The Villages, drivers who intentionally or accidentally break gate arms with their cars or golf carts, and the few unwise felons who enter neighborhoods with criminal intent, will find themselves much more likely to be identified and punished.