Addition By Subtraction
Northborough, Mass., is a quiet community spread across 18.69 square miles of rural splendor in Worcester County. It is home to 14,200 residents and, perhaps unexpectedly, to one of the more technologically progressive police departments in the state.
Chief Mark Leahy has embraced new technologies that appear to have promise, even though they may not yet be ready for the general market. “I love to beta test,” Chief Leahy says. “It’s a good opportunity and it keeps things interesting for our people.” The department has been participating in a long-term test of a system to connect computers in patrol cars back to servers at department headquarters. It was one of only two departments in the state to test a digital firearms licensing system that was subsequently adopted statewide.”
The department’s most recent early adoption experience was with S2 Security Corp.’s integrated security system product, the S2 NetBox.
The department’s previous access control system provided basic card access control capabilities for the building entrances and several high-security areas within the building. HID proximity card readers were connected to two control panels in the building. Software for the access control system included a server component that the department installed on one of its IT servers, and client software installed on a single desktop computer dedicated to monitoring. A separate analog CCTV system was connected to the dispatch center, which is staffed around the clock.
“Ideally the department wanted to integrate its CCTV and access control and have access to the system from desktop computers,” says James McStay of Bay State Alarm Co. “The problem was to do that cost effectively.”
McStay suggested the S2 NetBox integrated security management system. It uses LAN and WAN networking for system communication and Web browsers for its user interface. This combination enables a system to be operated from anywhere on the network and from any computer.
In its deployment of the S2 NetBox, the department installed a network controller and network node on the first floor and a second network node in the basement. In third generation (3G) architecture, the network controller takes the place of a PC-based server and a network node takes the place of a control panel. Network nodes were located next to the legacy control panels to make the transition to the new system faster. The existing HID proximity readers were connected to the nodes. Panasonic WV-NM100 cameras were placed in the lobby and near the rear building entrance and connected directly to the department’s existing LAN. The installation was then completed by deleting the legacy system’s client and server software from all computers where it was installed.
In the new system configuration, the existing lock devices, card readers and cameras were preserved and some new cameras were added. The system is monitored from the dispatch center, and administered from the communications supervisor’s office. Leahy also monitors the system from his desk from time to time.
“I wanted to be able to monitor the system myself, but I didn’t want a bank of monitors in my office,” he says.
The replacement and upgrade of the Northborough Police Department’s legacy access control system with a new integrated network appliance took approximately 12 installer hours and preserved the original security hardware except the legacy control panels.
Bill Toomey, supervisor for communications and records at the department, coordinated the transition to the new system. “We’re looking forward to adding digital video storage and additional access control points,” he says.
