01-03-2025
Sunbury installs 50 new cameras across city
SUNBURY — Nearly 50 new surveillance cameras across Sunbury are up and running, and city officials have kept a much more watchful eye on the project.
Alert Enterprises LLC of Kulpmont, has been installing the cameras since last year, Councilman Jim Eister said.
Keith Tamborelli, owner of Alert Enterprises, said 27 cameras were placed in and around Fort Discovery, Sunbury Ice Rink, the skate park and the softball fields, while an additional 10 are already in place across the city.
Tamborelli said the new system has audio and video and is being installed by Alert Security Services, a division of Alert Enterprises LLC.
Eister said he is happy to see progress and that the city saved thousands of dollars thanks to Tamborelli's help. Tamborelli used to be a Sunbury police officer.
According to Sunbury Treasurer Kevin Troup, the city has spent $32,466 on the updated version of the cameras.
Tamborelli said the new system is hardwired to receivers, which then sends a signal back to an app, which is monitored by police and city officials, Tamborelli said.
This system is the first in place since a 2013 debacle that blindsided city officials.
Sunbury paid Global Security Tactics, of Greensburg, $232,254, for installation and maintenance of about 50 cameras throughout the city. The funding included a $200,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice thanks to efforts by then-U.S. Rep. Chris Carney.
City council and then-Mayor Dave Persing all said they were unaware of the problems with the cameras until they were notified by the police department which began to have several issues with pulling video footage.
The cameras were immediately shut down, officials said.
An investigator from the U.S. Department of Justice visited Sunbury in 2019 as part of an ongoing investigation into that project, officials said.
The federal review was initiated in July 2018 when Joel Wiest, the city's solicitor, was instructed by council and then-Mayor Kurt Karlovich to contact the Department of Justice regarding the federal grant. City officials determined in 2018 the cost to upgrade and or repair the system was too much for the city budget, according to Troup.
According to City Administrator Derrick Backer, he has not heard a word from the DOJ on the status of the investigation.
DOJ officials have said they won't confirm or deny any investigations.
Moving forward, Eister said the city plans to enter a second phase of camera installation, including at City Hall, various intersections and entrances and exits to the city.
'The cameras are working fine and in the future we will be placing more throughout the city,' he said.
Police Chief Travis Bremigen said he is happy to see the city moving forward with a new system inside the department that will be accessible to his officers if needed.
'The upgrades at the police department are for the integrity and safety of our officers at the department and our system here will be moved to City Hall,' he said.
'The cameras going to City Hall will do the same for the building and area on Market Street to provide the same safety.'
Mayor Josh Brosious said he is thrilled to see the city get the upgrades.
'These cameras help us combat crime and hold people accountable,' he said.
'These cameras will help make Sunbury a safer place with the assistance of this technology.'
Eister said Phase 2 of the camera project will be underway in the spring.
