FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sheriff says a new state-of-the-art surveillance center will play a pivotal role in rapid crime response in his county, where 17 people were killed in a school shooting last year.
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony announced the opening Tuesday of a new 2,600-square-foot (240-square-meter) strategic command and intelligence center. It's expected to monitor live video feeds at more than 260 public schools and administrative buildings, as well as some county offices. Other facilities may be included later.
Tony says the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting demonstrated the need for real-time intelligence when crimes are happening. During the shooting, responding officers mistakenly thought they were seeing live security footage, but the video was delayed.
Officials say they have conducted 140 drills to test the surveillance system since January.
