Technology

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) has been adapting cutting edge technology to make our city remain as safe and prepared as any big city can be.

International Secure Communications Network (ISCN): Today, ISCN maintains over 350 miles of fiber optic cable, which is the backbone to transport voice, data and radio to Police Districts, Fire Houses, Police Headquarters, Fire Headquarters, City Hall and other key 911 facilities.

Private Sector Camera Initiative: This links Chicago based organizations, companies and sister agencies’ cameras systems into the OEMC state-of-the-art unified video surveillance network.

Operation Virtual Shield: The OVS enables the City to expand its use of surveillance cameras, biological, chemical, and radiological sensors. These cameras and sensors simultaneously feed into the City's Operations Center, where day-to-day coordination of city services and emergency response occurs.
Data Retention: The OEMC follows the below retention schedule for it's technical data. The schedule is documented in an Application for Authority to Dispose of Local Records, filed with the Local Records Commission of Cook County (Application No. 02:019C). Records Disposal Certificates are applied for each year prior to record disposal in accordance with Application No. 02:019C.

Item Number	Data	Retention
11.5	Data Transmission Backup Tapes (CAD)	4 years
11.6	Video Surveillance Recordings	3 days
11.7	PDT Tapes Instant Messages	90 days
11.8	OVS Surveillance Records	30 days
11.9	Legacy Camera Surveillance Records	15 days
11.10	GPS Data	90 days
11.11	9-1-1 Call Recordings	90 days

Link Your Cameras into OEMC (Private Sector Camera Initiative)

The Private Sector Camera Initiative links Chicago based organizations, companies and sister agencies’ cameras systems into the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) state-of-the-art unified video surveillance network.