Oakland Police Use Streaming Video To Monitor May Day Occupy Protests
OAKLAND (KCBS) - Oakland's police chief and mayor watched from a command center downtown as the events of the May Day protests unfolded in real time a few blocks away, thanks to streaming video cameras carried by several police officers and live webcam feeds posted online by the demonstrators themselves.
The May 1 demonstrations were the first time live web streams became part of the swirl of information that flows into Oakland's Emergency Operations Center during major incidents, said city spokeswoman Karen Boyd.
"We have as much information as we can to make quick decisions and deploy resources appropriately," she said.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
Four police officers carried pole mounted streaming cameras as the May Day activists moved en masse through downtown on Tuesday, giving Police Chief Howard Jordan, Mayor Jean Quan and other city officials eyes on the street.
"There's streaming video of different kinds, there's television news that we're monitoring," Boyd said, all playing across nine monitors as city officials plot strategy to maintain public safety.
The Police Department estimates as many as 5,000 demonstrators took part in different protests, marches and other actions throughout the city between 7 a.m. and midnight, she said.
Police arrested 39 people in connection with May Day protests.
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