New harbor security cameras focus on fighting crime

Wrangell now has a total of 56 security cameras up and running across all its harbors and The Marine Service Center.

The cameras run 24 hours a day and pick up clear footage in all lighting situations, said Harbormaster Steve Miller, even capturing images well in complete darkness.

The harbormaster and staff have access to the camera footage, which is stored for 30 days. Rather than monitoring the videos, harbor staff will go back to access the feeds if information is needed. But the cameras are equipped with motion sensors that highlight moments in the video feed where movement is detected, making it more efficient to find information.

If needed, boat owners can request footage from the harbormaster.

Already the cameras have come in useful a couple of times, Miller reported at the May 8 port commission meeting. They helped to clearly identify an individual who was under the influence and fell asleep on a dock in April, and in another incident the cameras helped to identify vehicles involved in an accident and the events leading up to it.

Installation of the cameras was prompted by an increase in thefts at Wrangell harbors in recent years. The project was funded by U.S. Department of Homeland Security grants.

The borough paid about half-a-million dollars to Chatham Electric out of Juneau for the security cameras, wiring and installation. Chatham finished the work last month.