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Chicago Police Net Three with Surveillance Cameras

'Whenever we can catch dope dealers in the act, whether it be by an officer, or by one of these Operation Disruption cameras, we are one step closer to making our streets safer.'

Last week, Chicago police made their first drug bust from footage captured live on video surveillance from the city's new Operations Center (OC), officials said, announcing the arrest of three individuals suspected in narcotics transactions.

Ron Huberman, Executive Director of the Office of Emergency Management was joined by Area Four Deputy Chief of Patrol, Charles Williams and 11th District Gang Tactical Team members to outline the details of this arrest.

Chicago Police Sgt. Gregory Hoffman spotted the suspicious activity from surveillance cameras at the OC located at 1411 W. Madison on February 9, 2005, beginning at 10:32 A.M.

Suspected narcotics transactions were observed on the sidewalk of 4422 W. Madison with multiple hand-to-hand transactions occurring between three individuals at different times.

The 11th District's Tactical Gang Team was immediately notified from the OC and responded to the scene where they took three offenders into custody at 11:04 a.m. Evette Sanders, 49, of West Chicago; Ruby Moore, 46, of West Chicago, and Oscar Scott, 42, of Maywood were arrested and charged on February 9. Twelve packets of heroin were also recovered from the offenders.

"Whenever we can catch dope dealers in the act, whether it be by an officer, or by one of these Operation Disruption cameras, we are one step closer to making our streets safer," said Deputy Chief Charles Williams. "These cameras have proven effective in disrupting gang activity in areas hardest hit by narcotics and violent crime. By coordinating the cameras with the Operations Center, we are better equipped to stop this kind of activity before it escalates," he added.

Since the launch of Operation Disruption in 2003, the City has strategically blended its homeland security and crime fighting techniques with a variety of advanced technologies that include surveillance and smart policing. As a result, open-air drug activity has declined in the 11th District, an area plagued by gang violence and drug activity.

OEMC Executive Director Ron Huberman went on to say that, "This arrest illustrates the future of crime fighting. I am confident that today's announcement will be followed by many more, as the City's camera strategy improves our capacity to stop crime in its tracks. Technology only becomes useful when we blend it into operations. By providing officers real-time information from the OC, we are better able to safeguard our communities against crime and terrorism."

Chicago has over 30 pod cameras located throughout communities where open-air drug markets and gang activity thrive. A number of the Operation Disruption cameras are currently integrated into the OC's wireless network and the city has plans to expand the number of pods to 80 by the end of 2005.

At the time of the announcement of the arrest last week, Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley and Police Superintendent Phillip J. Cline were in Florida presenting the city's crime fighting technology during a drug enforcement seminar Office of National Drug Control Policy.