Pasadena City College to Undergo $165,000 Security System Overhaul

Pasadena City College is upgrading its campus-wide security system with 38 new surveillance cameras and new equipment, including additional monitors, at the campus police command center.

As of now, PCC has a system of more than 140 electronic surveillance cameras on campus. The command center on campus police now has two large wall monitors that present multi-image displays, and two desks that provide additional monitoring.

“We‘re going to be updating our dispatch center with additional monitors so that we can monitor more cameras at once, plus upgrading and updating the software for the programs for the camera usage,” campus Police and Safety Supervisor Sgt. Bill Abernathie Abernathie said in the PCC Courier report.
The $165,516 upgrading contract was awarded last week to Glendale-based security systems company Sierra Group, which won over two other companies that were considered out of 11 vendors who submitted bids since November 2015.

Sierra Group was chosen “as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting all requirements of the bid,” according to the consent item approved by the Board of Trustees.

Aside from the additional cameras and monitors, the upgrade will also include a server with increased data storage for the Enterprise Video Management System which archives video footage that may be required for crime or misdemeanor investigations.

With the security upgrade, campus police hopes to reduce the number of car thefts, car damage and other incidents that occur mostly in the parking structures and parking areas.

The PCC Courier said a student reported in January that his car was hit while it was parked in Lot 5, and another student reported that her vehicle’s passenger window was shattered while she was in class. In early February, a parking permit was reported stolen from a car, and there have been reports of car casings.

Sierra Group specializes in commercial electronic security as one of its core competencies and has provided services for such clients such as Bank of the West, Citibank, Los Angeles Film School and the Hermosa Beach’s Police Department.

The company plans to start installation at PCC this month and complete the project by June 30, 2016.