Video: Local School District First In State To Have Centralized Video Security System

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – With the click of a mouse, live video from every security camera throughout the Tupelo Public School District is available.

“We have roughly 460 plus cameras district wide,” said TPSD Security Director Terry Hatch.

Two School Security Officers monitor the video feeds on large LED screens from their office at the Fillmore Center.

Hatch says the video surveillance system is a huge help for officers.

“The importance of this, is having more eyes basically, in blind spots our guys cannot be around, we also have security, they can patrol each day, but they can’t be each place,” Hatch said.

All 13 campuses have cameras. Some of the cameras can zoom in, like this one at the high school football field. And others are stationary, but give officers a clear view of visitors.

The system , including the command center, has a price tag of around $650,0’00 and it was one of the many projects funded through the district’s $44 million bond program, approved by voters last spring.

“Security cameras are a great resource, by having all those cameras flow into one room it allows us to be more proactive,” said Andy Cantrell, operations director for TPSD.

Everything is recorded and stored, so video of a particular incident can be retrieved easily.

“Teachers really feel wonderful,it’s all about safety, if you don’t feel safe, you’re not going to teach, if you don’t feel safe, you’re not going to learn,” Hatch said.

On a typical day, there are about 7000 people on TPSD campuses.

The TPSD security system is patterned after the video system at the North Mississippi Medical Center.