Surveillance camera inside a Green Bay business. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Law enforcement agencies have been using surveillance camera footage to help solve crimes for as long as the technology has existed.
But those agencies are always at the mercy of the victims, when it comes to the quality of the images.
“In a perfect world, everyone would have crystal clear cameras and be recording at the exact time that a crime happened and show us exactly what happened, but I don’t ever see that happening,” said Lt. Jena Luberda with the Green Bay Police Department.
And so authorities make do, using whatever they have to help solve crimes. Oftentimes, that means releasing surveillance images publicly — whether they’re good quality or lacking clarity.
“You never know who knows who, or at some point, it’s going to get back to the right person,” Luberda said. “In this instance it did, and we were able to make this arrest and put a lot of minds at ease.”
The instance Lt. Luberda referenced is last Friday’s arrest of 18-year old Mauricio Powless, who has been charged with sexually assaulting several girls at Tundra Lodge.
GBPD was able to identify him through the use of surveillance camera images. The department acknowledged the photos were not very clear, but it’s what they had access to at the time.
“In this instance, we were really lucky with Tundra Lodge having video, giving us what they had. But that goes with every business, too. We’re thankful for the information that they’re willing to give us, and in this instance it really worked to our benefit because we were able to make a really timely arrest and protect other people. And these victims get some justice for what happened to them,” said Luberda.
The use of surveillance video in solving crimes is nothing new, but it’s also not like it’s portrayed on the big screen.
“When you see some of these robberies in a gas station, and it’s black and white, and you zoom in and you go, ‘What does that look like?’ I’m watching CSI Miami and they zoom in and they can enhance it. The wonderful world of movies,” said Cory Peters, owner of Martin Systems.
His company works to install security systems, including surveillance cameras, inside and outside of businesses.
Understanding that law enforcement is always at the mercy of the person or business that captured the images, Peters said being able to access the information is just as important as capturing it.
“The cameras can get old, but that software staying up to date really helps to be able to transfer the information. So, there’s kind of that two-step: Is it good enough, clarity-wise, and is it functional? Can they use it?”
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