Milestone Systems has revealed that its video management system (VMS), XProtect, has been used to reduce crime and improve safety in the community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
According to the company, faced with rising crime, open-air drug markets and declining neighborhoods in the late 1990s, the citizens of Lancaster took action with the Lancaster Safety Coalition.
Milestone Systems reveals that the Lancaster Safety Coalition operates as a nonprofit organization, separate from law enforcement, but works collaboratively with police to enhance public safety in the community.
Choosing to deploy the XProtect VMS, the open platform reportedly provides a flexible foundation that enables city-wide scaling while adapting to evolving community needs.
Milestone Systems says that the technical infrastructure, designed and maintained by systems integrator App-Techs Corporation, supports approximately 170 4K quad-sensor cameras positioned throughout Lancaster’s neighborhoods and downtown area.
The XProtect VMS now supports more than 13,000 different security devices from over 700 manufacturers.
This flexibility has enabled the Coalition to select the best cameras for each location while ensuring cost-effective expansion.
“What makes this project remarkable is the synergy between the technology partners and our community vision,” said Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Lancaster Safety Coalition.
“The open platform from Milestone, the technical expertise from App-Techs and our community-driven approach created a formula that’s yielded extraordinary results.
“We’ve seen crime rates plummet, businesses return to downtown and most importantly, neighbors are reclaiming their streets.
“This isn’t just about cameras, it’s about using the right tools with the right partners to empower a community.”
The VMS operates as a force multiplier for local police, with officers regularly collaborating with Coalition operators on investigations and warrant service.
A custom digital evidence delivery system maintains strict chain-of-custody protocols, allowing operators to compile, document and securely transfer video evidence to law enforcement through a browser-based interface.
Since the implementation of XProtect, Milestone says that video evidence availability has grown from 55% to over 90%, enabling faster case resolution and stronger prosecutions.
In 2023 alone, live video support was given to 911 dispatchers in more than 4,100 incidents.
In one case, operators reportedly tracked a shooting suspect from the crime scene back to their residence within 15 minutes, leading to immediate arrest.
Looking ahead, the Lancaster Safety Coalition plans to add approximately 20 additional cameras over the next two years, representing their largest geographic expansion since 2009.