BearCom Deploys Wireless Video Surveillance Network for Dallas Police Department.

Company Brings Other Technology Leaders in as Partners on the Project, Which Will Promote a Safer Environment in Dallas' Downtown Business District

DALLAS -- BearCom, a nationwide provider of wireless communications equipment and solutions, announced today the installation and activation of a wireless video surveillance network for the Dallas Police Department, an initiative designed to the help the City of Dallas reduce crime in its central business district.

BearCom was the designer, integrator, and overall manager for the project, bringing in the following companies as strategic partners:

* Sony Electronics, a provider of wireless IP video surveillance cameras

* Firetide, a developer of wireless, multi-service mesh networking technologies

* BridgeWave Communications, a supplier of gigabit wireless solutions that facilitate the high-speed, point-to-point transfer of wireless data

The wireless video surveillance network was funded by a grant from the Meadows Foundation, and BearCom was selected as the vendor after a competitive bidding process. The initial phase of the installation, which was completed in January, consisted of 40 Sony cameras, 32 Firetide mesh nodes, and seven BridgeWave transfer units.

To allow the Sony cameras to operate over the network, the Firetide mesh nodes link to each other wirelessly, eliminating the need to install video cabling to each camera location, which would have been too difficult and cost-prohibitive for the City of Dallas. The nodes form a video network that spans the entire area selected for surveillance, and the system is self-healing -- should one link be blocked or lose power, the video signal will still go through without any interruption in service. The video traffic is aggregated and then backhauled to the monitoring stations at City Hall and Jack Evans Police Headquarters using BridgeWave's high-speed, secure wireless links.

All of the system components are mounted inside protective, weatherproof enclosures, which are installed on the exterior of buildings and on street light and traffic signal poles in downtown Dallas. Most of the cameras have motorized controls, enabling officers or public safety staff sitting in a remote monitoring location to move the camera lens in any direction and zoom in for a closer look.

"This project would not have been possible were it not for the cooperation of our partners," said John Watson, Chairman of BearCom. "Not only are Sony, Firetide, and BridgeWave innovators and leaders in the wireless communications industry, but more importantly, they worked closely with us to develop a solution that was a perfect fit for the needs of the Dallas Police Department and the City of Dallas. As a result, BearCom now has an integrated team that can offer similar solutions to other municipalities that want to leverage wireless technology as an effective and efficient way to combat crime."

As a key component of the Dallas Police Department's crime reduction efforts, the surveillance system will cover approximately 30 percent of the downtown area and will be used as a crime deterrent with live, 24-hour monitoring in City Hall and at police headquarters. The video streams will also be recorded to assist with criminal investigations. The overt system is designed with strict adherence to applicable laws and will be used only in public areas with visible camera placement and street-level signage.

"Our goal is to reduce crime in the area and to increase the overall satisfaction with public safety for our citizens," said Dallas Deputy Police Chief Tom Lawrence. "The wireless camera system from BearCom will dramatically improve our ability to monitor this area of the city, and we can now provide our officers with critical, real-time information they can use to protect the public and themselves whenever an incident is detected."

The Dallas Police Department plans to expand the wireless surveillance project to other areas of Dallas as additional funding becomes available.

About BearCom

BearCom provides a broad line of high-performance wireless communications products, services, and complete mobility solutions. Founded in 1981, BearCom is America's only nationwide dealer of wireless communications equipment, serves customers from 26 branch offices located throughout the U.S., has several affiliated offices around the world, and employs more than 400 people. BearCom is headquartered in the Dallas, Texas area. For more information, visit www.BearCom.com.