Cheltenham police will use AI-enabled surveillance cameras at a construction site, and could expand use around town
Packetalk cameras are already operating at Wall Park, Cheltenham officials said.
Cheltenham police will soon use AI-enabled cameras to deter crime at a construction site, and may use them in the future for crime hotspots and community events.
The $35,000 contract with Packetalk that township commissioners approved Wednesday includes AI-enabled camera technology with motion detection and software that allows police to both review live feeds and search recorded footage for license plate numbers and vehicle characteristics.
The cameras will initially be used at the La Mott Community Center construction site, but police will keep the cameras for use at crime hotspots and community events, IT Director Michael Rubin said at a Tuesday committee meeting. The contract includes five years of maintenance.
Packetalk also allows police to create a surveillance network using both public and private cameras with owners’ permission. The township already has Packetalk cameras at Wall Park, Rubin said.
Cheltenham officials, in an interview on Friday, characterized the existing Wall Park technology as more akin to conventional surveillance cameras. Though the department may access the cameras through the same Packetalk monitoring platform, the Wall Park cameras are not integrated with other surveillance systems and do not use AI-powered tools.
The Packetalk systems can help solve crime, police Chief Richard Schaffer said at the Wednesday meeting where commissioners approved the AI surveillance contract: “These cameras don’t get tired, they don’t leave ... they don’t sleep.”
Schaffer added Friday that camera technology was critical to solving cases like the 2023 homicide of Rachel King.
“For any investigation, we would take any legal avenue for trying to solve a case,” Schaffer said. “That would include if we identify cameras.”
Several Cheltenham commissioners also emphasized that the camera contract was well worth the cost to protect the more than $8 million investment the township is making in the community center.
Like the Flock cameras used by many police departments around the country, the Packetalk system can flag wanted vehicles, according to the company’s website.
Unlike Flock cameras, which can be connected to a nationwide network where other agencies can request access, the data from the Packetalk system will be stored by the township, and only Cheltenham will have access to it, Schaffer said.
Cheltenham doesn’t have its own Flock cameras, but has access to Flock’s surveillance network via private companies within the township, police previously said.
The new cameras have not yet arrived, but in general, the police department retains video for a minimum of 60 days, officials said.
The township originally planned to order two surveillance trailers from Packetalk for $35,000 each, but commissioners amended the agenda item to approve just one, which will be paid for via Cheltenham’s capital fund.
Packetalk was significantly cheaper than other vendors, a township memo noted.
The webpage for one of the cameras included in Cheltenham’s surveillance trailer features an “NDAA compliant” sticker — a claim that previously led to federal charges for Packetalk’s current CEO Tamer Zakhary.
Zakhary was charged in 2023 for allegedly selling Chinese surveillance equipment banned under the National Defense Authorization Act as his own product, asking a manufacturer to change the color and logo to hide it, and lying to public safety clients about compliance.
The federal charges were dropped in 2024 without explanation or prejudice, meaning prosecutors are still allowed to charge Zakhary again for the same thing in the future.
Township Manager Jonathan Altshul said Friday he had not been aware of the case.
Inquirer Greater Abington
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
