Jackson Free Press

Jackson police have a new set of eyes in the sky to prevent crime, deter speeding on city roads and maintain crowd control during big events.

On Thursday JPD unveiled the SkyCop Cadet system at a press conference outside the Jackson police station on S. President Street.

"The SkyCop mobile surveillance unit is specifically designed for remote monitoring of areas where communications services are limited," Jackson police Chief Rebecca Coleman said.

The system comes equipped with four cameras, radar speed detectors, night vision and automatic license-plate detectors. Through the unit's Sprint satellite capability, dispatchers can view the cameras' signals through the city's 911 communications system as well as control where the cameras are pointed.

"It also can be monitored by designated personnel via their laptop or their iPads," commander of special operations Duane Odom said.

JPD purchased SkyCop, priced at $54,500, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office. Coleman said JPD plans to purchase at least one more unit through available grants.

Jackson police received the system and training in its use just in time for the city's busy parade weekends. For this weekend's St. Paddy's Parade, Coleman said the SkyCop will be located at the intersection of State and Capitol Streets.

SkyCop can extend to 18 feet high and has a viewing range of 1,500 feet The extra eyes in the sky will help suppress crime during the parade, Coleman said, by giving more than one JPD officer the ability to detect anything out of the ordinary in the camera's view.

Police agencies in Memphis and New Orleans have used similar mobile surveillance units for years, and Coleman said they have helped to deter a variety of crimes in those cities.

"In Memphis, they have SkyCops throughout the city. They use it in inner-city, high-crime areas. As a result of this unit, they have shown a marked decrease in property crimes in the Memphis area," Coleman said. "They also use it on the interstate. It's served as a deterrent to have speeders to slow down, because it has a radar detection system that indicates the speed that a vehicle is traveling at that time."

Police use the SkyCops mostly in highly-populated events areas such as Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Coleman said. There, she said, they have helped deter illegal behavior in large crowds.