Operation Virtual Shield is a program implemented by Chicago, IL mayor Richard M. Daley, which created the most extensive video surveillance network in the United States[1] by linking more than 3000 surveillance cameras to a centralized monitoring system, which captures and processes camera feeds in real time.
[2] It is able to detect suspicious or dangerous activity and identify its location, and now incorporates facial recognition.
[3] Virtual Shield is also used to record activity at a potential crime scene before police arrive at a call.
[1][4] The retention time of technical data collected is 30 days.
[2] Daley stated that Chicago will have a surveillance camera on every street corner by the year 2016.