The staff at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint are fully committed to the mission of providing an environment which is safe, fun and nurtures the dreams of kids from all walks of life. One of the requisites for providing “a safe, fun experience” is security. The facility has always had security cameras, but they were the original CCTV cameras with fuzzy black & white images on a monitor. When one of the club’s vans was repeatedly vandalized in the parking lot, the system could only provide police and investigators a blurry image of the perpetrators. Club CEO Tauzzari Robinson reached out to Sonitrol for solutions.
Sonitrol partnered with 3XLogic, Inc. to upgrade and expand the video security system. The new innovative and cost-effective Video Management System features high-definition, 6 Megapixel, full color, remote controlled cameras with IP and infrared capability. The IP capability allows cloud storage of video for fast, remote access. The infrared capability means that the camera can see in the dark, too. The system links to Sonitrol and is also part of the Flint Police Department’s “CATT Eye” program.
“The new cameras are pretty slick. They help make our job so much easier,” says Amber Miller, Director of Programs & Operations. She relayed an incident in which a carload of young men slowly pulled into the parking lot. They appeared to be drinking. The cameras clearly identified the vehicle occupants and staff was able to contact the parents of the students involved. An intervention was initiated, and the young men decided to make better life choices.
“They are now becoming role models to younger club members,” said Miller.
Unit Director Stacy Winchester agrees. “Real-time monitoring is the best deterrent. It allows us to provide effective security at the club which, in turn, allows the kids to feel free enough to dream about the possibilities for their lives. It reinforces our commitment to them that we are here to provide them a safe environment where they can learn to become the productive leaders that they are capable of becoming.”