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Crime deterrent program goes live in West Houston Posted:Wednesday, March 9, 2011 3:11 pm After three years of comprehensive consultations, Jim 'Mattress Mack' Mcingvale and his wife, Linda, stood with city officials and community leaders to announce that Houston's first-ever public/private crime deterrent program using video technology was going live"in West Houston. Already,five cameras installed near the intersection of Briar Forest and Wilcrest have been connected wirelessly to HPD's Westside Command Station as part of Phase I of Operation Westside Success. Iron Sky, Inc. donated the state-of-the-art cameras, including three Pan/Tilt/Zoom or PTZ Cameras. Future equipment will be procured through the private donations made at www.westsidesuccess.com,and deployed in adherence with the city code and based on the needs and advice of HPD. "Today's announcement culminates three years of meetings and consultations between Operation Westside Success,the City of Houston and the Houston Police Department—and Linda and I want to thank everyone,including our private sector partners,for their support,"Jim Mclngvale said. "Today marks a new beginning, and thanks to the citizens who have generously stepped forward we hope this technology will help make west Houston an even greater place to live and work." "Operation Westside Success is a great example of what we always preach: community policing," said HPD Executive Assistant Chief Kirk Munden."HPD is pleased to partner with the business owners and community leaders that make up this citizen-led initiative to help our department fight crime in west Houston." Houston City Councilmember Oliver Pennington has supported Operation Westside Success from the very outset of his tenure at City Hall. "Our only goal is to help deter crime and assist HPD in making our west Houston neighborhoods safer,"said Pennington. Iron Sky President and CEO Keith Drummond said his company is proud to be associated with OWS and the City of Houston. peration Westside Success is not only a significant, groundbreaking crime prevention effort in west Houston but it's already captured the attention of other areas of Houston as well as other cities around the country,"said Drummond. "The images captured on the surveillance cameras are crystal clear,and our experience across the country shows that this technology can help deter crime wherever it is deployed." West Houston Medical Center has been a part of Operation Westside Success from its inception.CEO Todd Caliva believes Operation Westside Success can have a significant impact on west Houston. "West Houston Medical Center believes that it is important to give back to the community and Operation Westside Success is a perfect example of a publicprivate partnership," siad Caliva. "Helping to deter crime has a tremendous benefit for everyone who lives and works on the west side." Operation Westside Success has gamered tremendous private sector support and one of the most enthusiastic supporters has been Chick-fil-A's Greg Kubala,owner of Chick-fil-A's located at the comer of Westheimer and Kirkwood and Westhiemer near Fondren. "Chick-fil-A is proud to offer its financial support to Operation Westside Success.We are also proud to donate a percentage of sales every Saturday to Operation Westside Success."Kubala said. "Giving back to the community is important and I have no doubt the cameras will help to deter crime. It is my hope that Operation Westside Success will grow and more and more cameras will be placed in west Houston." Houston West Chamber of Commerce has also played a key role in communicating the benefits of OWS. "Operation Westside Success has worked closely with the Chamber and they have integrated into our Public Safety Committee,"said Jeannie Bollinger chamber president and CEO. "I have no doubt that OWS will continue to receive support from our community because public safety is always our number one concem." Operation Westside Success is a 501c3 organization, and maintains its funds at the Greater Houston Community Foundation in strict compliance with its guidelines. For more information, go to www.westsidesuccess.com. L