Building Safer Cities with Monitored Public Safety Camera Networks

In 2019, Perimeter Protection and Surveillance Systems deployed a HALO (High Activity Location Observation) public-safety camera network for a U.S. city with a population under 100,000. The system includes cameras strategically placed at parks, busy intersections, high-crime areas, city facilities, parking lots, and other public spaces.

A unique feature of the HALO program is the integration of Non-City-Owned (NCO) cameras. Private businesses and property owners voluntarily contribute cameras to the network by allowing secure integration through programming, gateway devices, or both. Today, approximately 80% of the cameras are city-owned and 20% are privately owned, expanding coverage while strengthening public-private partnerships.

All cameras record continuously and are accessible to the police department. Select cameras are actively monitored in real time by Perimeter Protection’s central station, which alerts law enforcement when intervention may be required. Typical dispatches involve loitering, drug activity, vandalism, assaults, and other suspicious behavior. The system has also become an important investigative tool for detectives solving serious crimes, including arson, attempted murder, and domestic violence.

One early example demonstrates the system’s impact. In 2020, an arsonist set fire in a local park during a period of repeated fires in the area. This initial action was immediately observed through the HALO system.  While firefighters and officers responded to the location, a police investigator accessed the HALO cameras and observed the suspect speaking with arriving officers —posing as a witness. The remote investigating officer immediately radioed to officers on site, and the individual was arrested on the spot. Further investigation linked the suspect to multiple prior arson incidents in the area.

Since deployment, the HALO network has supported numerous investigations, including shootings, attempted murders, and suspicious deaths, by enabling real-time intervention and evidence-based investigations.

In 2024 alone, the system generated 25,000 monitored observations by Perimeter Protection’s central station. Approximately 200 incidents required deeper review, resulting in 150 police dispatches, with 120 contacts made by officers. Many of these interactions de-escalated potentially dangerous situations and led to arrests. Stored video evidence also supported investigations involving muggings, vandalism, traffic collisions, hit-and-runs, burglaries, and shootings.

Now entering its seventh year of operation, the HALO program continues to deliver strong long-term value. Perimeter Protection honors the manufacturer’s warranty for the life of the contract, meaning cameras replaced due to manufacturer defects are upgraded with current technology at no cost to the city—ensuring the system remains modern, reliable, and fully operational.

Communities across the country are looking for ways to strengthen public safety without increasing strain on law-enforcement resources. HALO demonstrates how monitored camera networks can deter crime, support investigations, and improve response times.

Public-sector leaders interested in implementing a HALO-style program are encouraged to contact Perimeter Protection to schedule a consultation and explore how a monitored camera network can strengthen safety across their community.