Montgomery expands Star Center to help monitor city through camera feeds

Alex Gladden, Montgomery Advertiser
·1 min read

The Montgomery Police Department has expanded its River Region Star Center, allowing officers to monitor busy areas with real-time cameras.

“It’s a huge investment in public safety," Chief Darryl Albert said.

The expansion includes eight new monitors officers use to survey the cameras, Lt. Donald Lowe said. Lowe oversaw the project, which cost the city about $645,000. Albert called this a success and said that many departments spend millions on similar technological infrastructure.

“We understand the need for more eyes, if you will, around the community," Mayor Steven Reed said.

Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert and Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed alng with MPD Lt. D.E. Lowe show the MPD’s Star Center room during a press conference at the police department in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday March 5, 2024.
Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert and Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed alng with MPD Lt. D.E. Lowe show the MPD’s Star Center room during a press conference at the police department in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday March 5, 2024.

Reed said the department has more tech advances to come.

The project began in 2019 and wrapped up this month. As a part of the initiative, Albert will be hiring a crime center analyst, a civilian position to help officers oversee the center.

The monitors allow officers to zoom in and out as well as direct the cameras to different positions.

“We know this is the future," Albert said.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed alng with MPD Lt. D.E. Lowe show the MPD’s Star Center room during a press conference at the police department in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday March 5, 2024.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed alng with MPD Lt. D.E. Lowe show the MPD’s Star Center room during a press conference at the police department in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday March 5, 2024.

It is free to register cameras to the Star Watch program, which allows officers to request camera footage from Montgomery residents.

To allow officers to access the cameras live, it costs $350 to connect four cameras to the program.

Montgomery Police Lt. D.E. Lowe demonstrates a tabletop monitor in the MPD’s Star Center room during a press conference at the police department in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday March 5, 2024.
Montgomery Police Lt. D.E. Lowe demonstrates a tabletop monitor in the MPD’s Star Center room during a press conference at the police department in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday March 5, 2024.

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Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery police expand Star Center to monitor city with cameras