House of Worship

Baltimore Synagogue Helps Protect Congregation with Sony IPELA Cameras

National crime and terrorist incidents have prompted one of Marylands largest synagogues to improve the security of its 1,350-member congregation.

Previously, the Chizuk Amuno Congregation in Baltimore, Md. had a security system that consisted of a door buzzer, two black-and-white CCTV analog cameras and a part-time guard service.

With heavy traffic pouring in from nearby roadways, different entrances for each of its buildings and large surrounding parking lots, the 175,000 square foot campus which includes four schools with 1,000 students and 250 teachers and staff, a library, playground, sports fields, administration offices, and other structures has close to 1,200 people in the buildings on weekdays, and around 3,500 people during the high holidays. The congregation needed a more reliable, comprehensive monitoring solution to keep an eye on the day-to-day activities of their large operation.

"We've always had access control with locked doors and buzzers and an old black and white CCTV set of cameras at the main entrances", said Ronald Millen, executive director of the Chizuk Amuno Congregation. "But being right on the beltway made us feel vulnerable and we wanted to take the next step."

Millen said the congregation chose Sony IPELA® cameras with the Milestone IP video management software because the open platform allows seamless integration with other systems and devices for flexibility, and because of the convenience of being able to remotely access the cameras from anywhere a computer is present.

"The Jewish community has felt a need to protect itself", Millen said. "Being close to Washington, Baltimore felt a lack of preparedness after 9/11, and there had been some sightings of suspicious people at a nearby Orthodox Jewish school and some vandalism incidents. The Baltimore Jewish Council actively watches developments in this area, working closely with the police, and they recommended that we look into security improvements."

Milestone Systems, whose IP surveillance software manages and monitors camera footage, and Baltimore-based Computerized Management Systems Inc., a Milestone vendor trained to integrate XProtect Enterprise software to make flexible large video surveillance solutions, helped to install the several dozen cameras that now cover the Chizuk Amuno campus.

"Milestone quickly became the front runner", Millen said. "We wanted something to last, with the ability to expand in future, to integrate with other systems, and to share it remotely. We needed to do it right and to give ourselves as many options as possible."

The premises are now outfitted with 29 Sony cameras, including the SNC-RZ25N, SNC-CS3N and SNC-DF40N. About 10 Sony PTZ cameras are stationed outside, with several fixed cameras at the main property entrances. One is wireless and controlled remotely, perched on a driveway light pole to catch images of all incoming vehicles.

"The Sony IPELA cameras sweep a full 340 degrees with such great coverage that only one of these cameras is needed per location instead of four regular cameras more spread out", said Dr. Henry Tyrangiel, president of Computerized Management Systems of Baltimore, Md.

Millen said he and the guards use Milestones XProtect Remote Client software to monitor footage. "We can see images on the screen from all the cameras around our buildings including the pre-school, the entrance to the elementary school, the synagogue and museum entrance where a guard is stationed, and the back entrance, which is my favorite view", Millen said. "Thats where theres a lot of activity with deliveries of supplies and food for the caterers and our two kitchens."

In 2005, Chizuk Amuno received a federal and state grant from the Baltimore Jewish Council, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, for the camera installation. The new security system was also 50 percent funded by the congregation through security surcharges on membership fees.

"The safety of our students, congregants and our staff is of paramount focus", Millen said.