After attending several conferences aimed at learning about new technologies to help first responders to do their jobs more easily, officials from the City of Hattiesburg have decided to take steps to implement those measures in the Hub City – with the first steps of that initiative consisting of public engagement meetings on that matter.
During the January 2 meeting of Hattiesburg City Council, Mayor Toby Barker gave a presentation outlining technology initiatives for the city’s first responders, which include drone-supported assistance for the fire and police departments, along with camera-assisted support for the police department regarding ticketing for school zone violations and uninsured drivers.
“We want our community to be as safe as possible; our number one responsibility is public safety,” Barker said. “We have to also understand that law enforcement is evolving, and while it’s continuing to get harder to recruit personnel to law enforcement in general, technology can help to bridge some of that gap.
“This is about giving law enforcement and firefighters the tools they need that can help keep the public safer, and also keep themselves safe in tough situations.”
To that end, the city will hold five public meetings – one for each of the city’s wards – to gain feedback on those measures. Those meetings are as follows:
- Ward 1: 7 p.m. January 22 at New Covenant Baptist Church, 3202 West 7th Street in Hattiesburg;
- Ward 2: 7 p.m. January 23 at C.E. Roy Community Center, 300 East 5th Street in Hattiesburg;
- Ward 3: 7 p.m. February 1 at University Baptist Church, 3200 West Arlington Loop in Hattiesburg;
- Ward 4: 7 p.m. February 22 at Sigler Center, 315 Conti Street in Hattiesburg; and
- Ward 5: 7 p.m. February 27 at Lillie Burney Learning Center, 901 Ida Avenue in Hattiesburg.
In addition to the town hall meetings, residents also can give feedback via an online survey at www.hattiesburgms.com/techforfirstresponders.
“The first step is seeing what the residents think,” Barker said. “With any new technology, I think there has to be transparency and there has to be buy-in from the community.
“So this first phase is holding town hall meetings in every ward, and putting a survey online, and just getting the public’s feedback on it. I imagine we’ll do a lot of listening over the next couple of months, and then figure out if the city’s going to move forward with one or more of these (initiatives).”
The use of drone technology is expected to help firefighters see through heat and smoke to gain accurate information with a lower risk of harm and accidents for personnel. Drones would provide situational awareness regardless of conditions at the scene, without firefighters making entry into a facility beforehand.
Officials say those devices would help police provide immediate assessments of the circumstances at any given scene – both inside and outside – with the use of cameras, flood lights and mapping sensors. Two-way audio also would allow for communication and assessment with suspects and other individuals.
The use of cameras in high-traffic areas would assist with issuing citations to uninsured drivers, and would help police officers enforce speed limits in school zones. That technology is usually employed with the assistance of third-party vendors.
According to a 2021 study by the Insurance Research Council, Mississippi held the highest percentage of uninsured motorists in 2019, with 29.4 percent of drivers without insurance. This is compared to a national average of 12.6 percent.
While the Mississippi Legislature passed House Bill 1568 in 2009, which disallows cameras for citing drivers for speed violations, there is no prohibition on cameras being used to support officers who are presently on scene.
City officials will take into consideration the feedback gathered at the aforementioned town hall meetings before making any decisions on the initiatives.
“In the case of drones, you’re talking about purchasing some equipment,” Barker said. “And in the case of cameras, you’ve got to go out and use a third-party vendor to use some of this stuff, so it’s a process.
“The first step is finding out how the public feels about this.”
Costs and timelines of implementation will vary across all three initiatives, but will be included in future updates if the proposal moves before council. More information can be found on the aforementioned website.
