Wilmington Police Department & City Hall Security Upgrade
Wilmington had old Bosch cameras, aging prox readers, video retrieval problems, and access-control hardware that was no longer keeping up with how the Police Department and City Hall operated.
After the City received more than 10 total bids, Umbrella Security Systems was selected to replace the old system with AXIS cameras and AXIS access-control hardware while the Police Department stayed active.
What Wilmington needed replaced.
The City needed a municipal security upgrade across two public buildings with different day-to-day needs: the Wilmington Police Department and Wilmington City Hall.
The Police Department needed better camera coverage, faster video retrieval, evidence room access control, interview-room camera support, and a careful installation plan inside an active police facility. City Hall needed old door-access hardware replaced with a cleaner access-control setup.
- Aging Bosch cameras
- Old prox readers
- Slow video retrieval
- Evidence room access concerns
- Active police facility constraints
- AXIS camera replacement
- AXIS access-control readers
- Faster retrieval workflow
- Controlled access to sensitive areas
- Sequenced replacement while operating
Wilmington police leadership explains what changed.
The strongest proof on this page is Wilmington leadership explaining the problems with the old system, the improvements after the upgrade, and what it was like working with Umbrella.
We were chasing problems, trying to keep things working. It was time for a new system.Adam Zink, Chief of Police, Wilmington Police Department
Everything has met exactly what we expected so far, or even better. I would 100% recommend Umbrella.Adam Zink, Chief of Police, Wilmington Police Department
Why selection mattered.
A police department and City Hall upgrade is not just a device replacement. The contractor has to understand active public buildings, police operations, access-control reliability, video retrieval, and how to sequence the work while the building remains in use.
Active facility
The Police Department remained active while cameras, readers, wiring, and system components were replaced.
Public buildings
The project covered two facilities with different daily uses: police operations and City Hall access.
Access control
Old reader hardware and sensitive-area access had to be addressed with a cleaner access-control system.
Video retrieval
The old process made footage harder to find and use when authorized staff needed video quickly.
The old system was creating daily friction.
The old system was roughly 10 years old. Camera quality was poor, video download and retention were frustrating, and access-control hardware was not working reliably enough for the way the buildings were used.
Aging cameras
Slow video retrieval
Old door readers
Evidence room control
Interview-room recording
This was not an empty construction site.
Umbrella had to install cameras, readers, wiring, and system components while the Wilmington Police Department continued operating.
Keep the old system working during transition
The existing system remained operational while new cameras and access-control components were installed.
Install new equipment inside an active facility
Technicians worked inside finished police department spaces, ceilings, doors, and operating areas.
Test, transition, and hand off
The work had to be sequenced around police operations, cutover, testing, and handoff.
At the same time, as they were still working on access control with the new ones, the old ones were still working.Justin Dole, Deputy Chief, Wilmington Police Department
The upgrade touched the parts of the building staff used every day.
Wilmington moved from aging cameras, old readers, and daily workarounds to AXIS cameras, AXIS access-control hardware, better video retrieval, and better control over who enters key areas.
From aging Bosch cameras to AXIS camera coverage.
The police department camera upgrade needed more than new hardware. Wilmington needed clearer video, better hallway coverage, and a retrieval process that worked faster when footage was needed.
From old prox readers to AXIS access control.
The access-control work helped Wilmington move away from unreliable reader hardware and toward cleaner credential-based access at key doors.
Video, audio, and a manual way to control recording.
Umbrella installed an AXIS corner-mount camera with a built-in microphone and a physical wall switch so authorized staff could turn audio recording off when needed.
Access control mattered most in sensitive areas.
For the Police Department, access control was not just convenience. It helped leadership manage who could enter sensitive spaces and when.
For example, our evidence room is now controlled based on who gets in there and at what time.Adam Zink, Chief of Police, Wilmington Police Department
Clearer video, faster retrieval, and better control over who enters key areas.
Wilmington’s old system created daily workarounds. The new system helped the Police Department and City Hall move to clearer video, better coverage, AXIS access-control hardware, and a more usable security setup.
Faster video retrieval
Finding video faster mattered because footage is only useful when authorized staff can locate and review it quickly.
Better hallway coverage
The police department camera upgrade helped address visibility gaps inside the facility.
Evidence room access
Chief Zink specifically pointed to controlling who gets into the evidence room and when.
City Hall door access
Old door-access hardware was replaced as part of the City Hall access control upgrade.
Active transition
New components were installed while existing systems remained operational during transition.
What other municipalities should confirm first.
If your city is preparing a security camera RFQ or access control RFQ, Wilmington is a useful project to study. The scope should explain what the facility needs to see, who needs access, how video will be retrieved, and how the contractor will keep the building operational during replacement.
Start with what the building needs to do: capture useful video, control access to sensitive areas, keep staff working, and make the system easier to support after handoff.
Which cameras are failing or missing coverage?
How long does video retrieval take today?
Which doors or sensitive areas need controlled access?
Can old and new systems overlap during cutover?
Does the RFQ include interview-room audio needs?
What proof should bidders show before selection?
The work happened in real public buildings, with Wilmington leadership explaining the need and the result.
The project was completed for Wilmington’s Police Department and City Hall, with customer video, project images, and leadership quotes showing the conditions Umbrella had to work through.
Use this project to think through cameras, doors, active-facility replacement, and RFQ scope.
Useful references for the city and the technology used in this upgrade.
City of Wilmington, Illinois
Official municipal website for the City of Wilmington, Illinois.
Visit official city siteWilmington Police Department
Official public-safety page for the Wilmington Police Department.
Visit police department pageAXIS Access Control
Manufacturer information about AXIS access-control products.
View AXIS access controlDiscuss a similar police department or City Hall security upgrade.
If your facility is dealing with aging cameras, old prox readers, obsolete keypad-style hardware, access-control problems, blind spots, slow video retrieval, or an active facility that cannot be left exposed during replacement, Umbrella can help evaluate the current system and plan a practical path forward.
Wilmington Police Department & City Hall Security Upgrade
Wilmington replaced old cameras, aging readers, and access-control hardware across the Police Department and City Hall while the Police Department stayed active.
Start with your role in the project.
Different municipal stakeholders notice different risks. Wilmington’s project has proof for police leadership, city administration, IT/facilities, and procurement.
I’m police leadership
Focus on hallway coverage, video retrieval, evidence room access, interview-room recording, and keeping the Police Department operational during replacement.
I’m city administration
Focus on the public-bid context, two-building scope, communication, public facility reliability, and customer recommendation.
I’m IT or facilities
Focus on old/new equipment, cutover planning, wiring inside a finished facility, video retrieval, access-control readers, and support after handoff.
I’m involved in procurement or RFQ planning
Focus on what to scope before bidding: coverage gaps, reader replacement, sensitive areas, active-facility cutover, and proof bidders should show.
Wilmington leadership explains what changed.
We were chasing problems, trying to keep things working. It was time for a new system.Adam Zink, Chief of Police, Wilmington Police Department
Wilmington could not keep working around the old system.
Old cameras
The old Bosch cameras no longer gave Wilmington the coverage and video quality the Police Department needed.
Slow video retrieval
Finding, downloading, and retaining video took too much time when authorized staff needed footage quickly.
Old readers
Old prox readers and obsolete keypad-style hardware needed replacement at key doors.
Evidence room access
Chief Zink specifically pointed to the evidence room and controlling who gets in there and at what time.
Interview-room recording
The interview room needed video, audio, and a manual way for authorized staff to turn audio recording off when needed.
The Police Department stayed active during the work.
Old and new systems overlapped
New camera work was installed while the old camera remained in place during transition.
Keep the old system working
Existing systems remained operational during transition.
Install inside the active facility
Technicians worked inside finished police department spaces.
Test and hand off
The work had to be sequenced around police operations, cutover, and testing.
At the same time, as they were still working on access control with the new ones, the old ones were still working.Justin Dole, Deputy Chief, Wilmington Police Department
What changed in the system.
Camera replacement
Old Bosch camera hardware was replaced as part of the police department camera upgrade.
Old reader hardware was replaced with AXIS access control.
City Hall and key facility doors needed cleaner credential-based access.
Access-control readers
Old reader hardware was replaced with AXIS access-control hardware at key doors.
Interview-room camera
Umbrella installed an AXIS corner-mount camera with a built-in microphone.
Manual audio control
A wall switch gave authorized staff a simple way to turn audio recording off when needed.
Access control mattered most in sensitive areas.
For the Police Department, access control helped leadership manage who could enter sensitive spaces and when.
For example, our evidence room is now controlled based on who gets in there and at what time.Adam Zink, Chief of Police, Wilmington Police Department
Controlled access
Credential-based access helped Wilmington better manage restricted areas.
What changed for Wilmington.
What to confirm before writing a municipal security RFQ.
Which cameras are failing or missing coverage?
How long does video retrieval take today?
Which sensitive areas need controlled access?
Can old and new systems overlap during cutover?
Does the RFQ include interview-room audio needs?
The work happened in public buildings people use every day.
The project was completed for Wilmington’s Police Department and City Hall, with customer video, project images, and leadership quotes showing the conditions Umbrella had to work through.
Planning a similar upgrade?
Discuss a similar police department or City Hall security upgrade.
If your facility is dealing with aging cameras, old readers, access-control problems, blind spots, slow video retrieval, or an active facility that cannot be left exposed during replacement, Umbrella can help plan a practical path forward.