Customer Story: Donald Reid, Deputy Chief, City of Hopewell

Challenge:

The need for power and internet connectivity in situations where cabling is inaccessible or impossible to run.

Solution:

Implement the Gridless system, along with cloud-connected cameras, to provide 24/7 surveillance of high-crime zones.

Hopewell’s Resilient Growth in Building a Better and Safer Future

Nestled along the James River just south of Richmond, historic Hopewell, Virginia is home to around 23,000 residents. Known as the “Wonder City” for its rich history and resilience, Hopewell has continually bounced back from challenges. Today, the town is focused on revitalizing its downtown with new restaurants, shops, and a growing art community. Achieving these goals is made easier with secure and reliable surveillance to ensure the safety of the town.

Deputy Chief Donald Reid has served Hopewell for nearly 20 years, dedicating his efforts to making the city a safe and secure place for all who call it home by implementing security solutions in vulnerable areas. 

Hopewell’s Struggle with Crime: How Lack of Surveillance Affected Ongoing Investigations

In 2022, Hopewell saw a staggering 78% increase in violent crimes, including multiple homicides, hit-and-runs, missing persons, and active shootings throughout the city. With limited surveillance, law enforcement struggled to solve these cases and urgently needed a security solution. This lack of proper infrastructure made it even more challenging for law enforcement to effectively investigate and resolve these crimes with surveillance.

At the time, Hopewell had no active security cameras. Investigations relied on residents’ Ring doorbell cameras or low-quality commercial security cameras, making it difficult to gather useful, reliable footage. To address this gap in surveillance, the biggest challenge Hopewell faced was powering the cameras, as navigating the permitting process proved too complicated for a timely solution. The city needed an off-grid solution that was solar or AC-powered. It was essential to find a system with battery backup, ease of use, and quick deployment to ensure lasting effectiveness.

How Gridless Provided a Reliable and Off-Grid Security Solution

The Gridless system provided the perfect solution for Hopewell. As an off-grid security solution that seamlessly integrates with any existing camera or VMS platform, Gridless was a game-changer for the city. This integration was crucial for Hopewell, as they had already found a camera manufacturer that met their needs, and the collaboration between the two systems played a significant role in solving crimes across the city. Additionally, Gridless offers both AC and solar-powered units, ideal for traffic signals and high-crime areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage where it’s needed most.

Thanks to the partnership between the camera manufacturer and Gridless, Hopewell saw a 38% decrease in crime in 2023. The city successfully solved three homicides, multiple hit-and-runs, a firebombing incident, and several missing persons cases. The collaboration between the two systems has enhanced officer safety, improved preparedness when approaching scenes, and made officer deployment more efficient.  “It’s a force multiplier having these eyes,” said Donald. “It truly has enhanced the services that we provide to our community.”

Hopewell’s Successful Partnership with Gridless: Enhancing City Safety and Crime Prevention With Reliable Security 

Gridless systems have been up and running for almost two years and we are proud to have enhanced community safety while providing a reliable solution.

“We’ve had no issues. We just email or call Gridless with any questions and they’ve been phenomenal.”

-Donald Reid

The collaboration between the Hopewell Police Department and Gridless has proven to be a transformative force in enhancing public safety and crime-solving capabilities. By providing a reliable, off-grid surveillance solution, Gridless has helped the city address its pressing security challenges, leading to a notable decrease in crime and improved community safety. With seamless integration, durability, and dedicated customer support, Gridless continues to empower Hopewell’s law enforcement, allowing them to serve and protect the city with greater efficiency while providing a reliable security solution.

As Hopewell moves forward with its revitalization efforts, secure surveillance will remain a cornerstone in building a safer, stronger community for all its residents.

“The instant eye on the crime in the area has been huge for us. It had definitely enhanced the quality of investigations that we do here in the city. It was an easy sell to our council and our community loves it.”

-Donald Reid

Want to learn more about why PDs go Gridless? Book a demo today and see firsthand how our system can protect your city and streamline security.