The Metropolitan Police Department will activate its Joint Operations Command Center, including the network of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, as a routine public safety measure during two upcoming events in the District of Columbia:
 
Right to Life March, January 23. Beginning at approximately 7 am, on Monday, January 23, CCTV cameras will be activated for the annual "Right to Life" March marking the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision on abortion rights.

State of the Union Address, January 31. Beginning at approximately 12 noon, on Tuesday, January 31, CCTV cameras will be activated for President Bush's State of the Union Address, which begins at 9 pm in the US Capitol.

For both events, the MPDC will activate its network of 19 CCTV cameras to help police monitor for any suspicious or unusual activities along the National Mall and in the downtown area. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it is anticipated the cameras will be deactivated shortly after each event concludes. No additional cameras outside the existing CCTV network are scheduled to be deployed.

The Metropolitan Police Department's CCTV system is a secure, wireless network of 19 cameras owned and operated by the MPDC. The cameras are mounted on various buildings, primarily in downtown DC and the Georgetown commercial area. They focus on public spaces around the National Mall, US Capitol, White House, Union Station and other critical installations, as well as major arteries and highways that pass through downtown DC.

The CCTV system is activated only during major events in the District or during periods of heightened alert for terrorism. CCTV camera feeds are displayed in the MPDC's Joint Operations Command Center (JOCC), a secure facility located on the 5th floor of police headquarters.

Additional information about the CCTV network, including the locations of the 19 permanent cameras, can be found on the MPDC website, www.mpdc.dc.gov/cctv.