Sentrus ® - Wireless Video Surveillance Systems

Local Technology Leading Fight Against Terrorism (Related Video 56 k / 120 k)

(KSDK) - A St. Louis based company has developed cutting edge technology to aid in the fight against terrorism.

Sentrus, a local technology firm, has developed a system to allow first responders to communicate more efficiently and effectively. This product is first of its kind according to the company, and developed right here in St. Louis.

In a dramatization, police make a routine traffic stop that quickly escalates into a mock bomb scare.

The purpose was to demonstrate the ability to detect certain threats using Freedom One, a system that can transmit video and audio to any location you want monitored.

The exercise was simultaneously broadcast in St. Louis and Kansas City, then transmitted to the Homeland Security office in Jefferson City.

Sentrus Chairman Richard Weinstein said, "the state's interest in the evaluation is to allow the capability to monitor in the event of an emergency to monitor this and provide aid to the various cities."

St. Louis County police say equipment like this could be invaluable in their day-to-day use, as well as in the event of a disaster.

Major Tim Fitch, of the St. Louis County Police Department, says, "if we need to talk to Kansas City police because we have an emergency here in St. Louis, and they need to know about it, we need to get on the telephone and call them and sometimes those systems aren't available."

Now, one of the criticisms of 911 was that the police department and various agencies could not communicate together. According to Sentrus, Freedom One allows them to do that.

Meantime, no word yet on if governmental agencies will decide to use the product or not.

-- Dana Hollowell/KSDK

April 18, 2003 posted by

KC, St. Louis police work together in terrorist-response exercise

Kansas City and St. Louis police responded to a mock terrorist threat Thursday in a test of Missouri's ability to cope with emergencies.

In Jefferson City, the Missouri director of homeland security and other officials watched live video feeds as agencies in both cities reacted.

The state officials also could hear radio transmissions between St. Louis and Kansas City police.

The effort tested new communication technology that Missouri could use in a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, said Susie Stonner, spokeswoman for the state's Office of Homeland Security.

The mock incident started with a car stop in St. Louis, where officers found information about a planned terrorist attack involving a white van, a bomb and Kemper Arena. St. Louis officers then called Kansas City police and relayed the information.

Kansas City police stopped the van at Kemper Arena, arrested the driver and found the bomb. The fire department's hazardous materials team carefully removed the bomb.

"It was a good opportunity for us," said Kansas City police Capt. Jim Pruetting. "We're always trying to find better ways for interagency communication."

-- Christine Vendel/The Star