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VERTICAL MARKETS: GOVERNMENT SoCal City's Surveillance Acts as Force Multiplier A Southern California municipality tests the video surveillance waters with a system that keeps watch on busy intersections along main thoroughfares. To meet the city's requirements, the project's winning integrator provides a high-defnition wireless solution that partly relies on solar power. PHOTO: KELLY BRACKEN By Rodney Bosch W hen city ofcials in Torrance, Calif., decided to green-light a proposed video surveillance project, they had more in mind than to simply put additional "eyes" on the streets to help combat crime. Located near Los Angeles amid a web of freeways, the police department in this coastal city of 150,000 residents was mainly interested in monitoring major intersections that are considered likely escape routes for criminals. Having secured a federal grant to help foot the cost of the system, the city drafted a request for proposal (RFP) to identify a systems integrator that would provide Torrance its frst entry into municipal video surveillance. Te project called for wireless communications to transmit video feeds, as well as solar power in one zone to accommodate a state agency that would not allow the city to tap into a power line that it controls. Read on to f nd out the details behind the integrator's winning bid and how the project came to fruition. 92 / SECURITYSALES.COM / SEPTEMBER 2013 CITY OF TORRANCE IDENTIFIES ITS INTEGRATOR PARTNER Following the release last year of a public bid for the project, Torrance ofcials hosted a job walk that attracted about 20 installing security contractors. Of that group, seven companies went on to submit proposals. Taking the prize for the $190,000 project was Digital Networks Group of Aliso Viejo, Calif. "We were not the lowest bidder by any means. However, I was very detailed with my presentation and I gave them a lot of details on the products we would be providing," says Trey Cox, an account manager with Digital Networks Group. "When they compared the products and capabilities, they felt the system I was providing was going to do the best job for them and that's why we won." While Digital Networks Group has been in business for 25 years, the company's video surveillance division, which Cox manages, was launched about fve years ago. Te frm spe-