Access Control
& Security Systems

“There is a need to exercise common sense to ensure that the availability of technology does not drive our society to let the end justify the means. Everyone wants to be safer and secure in these insecure times, but we must all be careful to make certain that we don't ask for too much security. The cost in personal freedom could be very high.”
— GORDON B. LONGTON, consultant, James L. Johnson Associates Inc.

“The real threat is the use of cameras to show crime that was not responded to. Some police officers say that they could take simple traffic stops to much higher offenses but for the perception of someone watching the replay seeing intimidation, or questionable actions from the officers.”
— RICH ROTH, executive director, CTI Consulting

“I spend a lot of my time teaching people that cameras are almost always reactive not pro-active. They may help us catch the murderer, thief, or terrorist, but a camera can not prevent any of those acts. I am not opposed to adding CCTV cameras to public places. I do not feel that placing a camera is any more intrusive on my rights than asking a police officer to walk a beat in that area. What I do not like is that it adds to the illusion of security, while at the same time raising the perceived threat level. If there is a real danger, let's put police officers back in our neighborhoods.”
— LARRY SHERWOOD, surveillance technical manager, Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort

“Only the guilty have something to fear by the introduction of CCTV in public places.”
— LEO P. GONNERING, PSP, Homeland Defense Group, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas Inc.

“I'm totally amazed by the concern about erosion of ‘civil liberties’ by placing CCTV cameras in public places. None of my civil liberties are in jeopardy since there are already some restrictions in place about what I'm allowed to do in public. There is no expectation of privacy while walking down a public street.”
— CARL RAMER, engineer, Florida

“The security industry as usual is not doing a very good job of educating the public to the advantages of CCTV in public places. With all the primetime news shows, why do I not see at least a representative from the private security sector on these shows? We certainly see enough government consultants. Where is our security industry PR campaign? We need to keep the focus on the security and defense of our country.”
— ROBERT DOLPH, product and training consultant

“As a security professional, I see how the positive benefits of the public use of CCTV outweighs the negative, especially in today's world, when the protection and detection against violent crimes and terrorism as well as the safety of our families and children are everyone's priority.”
VINCE LUPE, director of product mgt., Diebold Inc.

“There is absolutely no problem with CCTV in public places, especially if its use is advertised and not done secretly. The bad guys have too many things going in their favor already these days, and it's about time some things started tilting back in the favor of law enforcement and security. The 9-11 Commission has demonstrated how the stifling of the sharing of information between government agencies in the interests of ‘privacy’ resulted in horrific consequences. I'm all for the protection of our civil liberties, but people have to face up to the harsh reality that the threats lurking in today's world necessitate a degree of compromise.”
— ALAN KING, Seventrees Corp., Benton Harbor, Mich.