LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Little Rock Police Department has acknowledged that the citywide surveillance system is not working to its full potential, as the cameras don’t record at their highest capacity.
The 53-camera system currently records at about 10 frames per second compared to 30 frames which is normal broadcast television quality, KATV.com reports.
Police are blaming low bandwidth for the low quality video, stating that current bandwidth providers like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon don’t currently provide the type of bandwidth necessary.
And although the North Little Rock Police Department’s cameras record between 15 and 20 frames per second, the department has similar bandwidth issues that LRPD is experiencing.
Representatives for each city say that it is too expensive to invest in expanding bandwidth; in fact, both municipalities have already spent thousands to maintain the bandwidth currently used.
Both departments acknowledge that the surveillance cameras serve as a crime deterrent and that the surveillance systems have helped solve multiple crimes.
