On Sunday, residents and visitors of downtown Silver Spring gathered to share their thoughts on Parker, a 420-pound security robot deployed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to enhance surveillance and deter crime in parking garages.
The outreach event took place next to the Town Square Garage at 786 Ellsworth Drive, where people expressed both skepticism and hope regarding this innovative security initiative.
Robert Newkirk, a 50-year-old resident living adjacent to the Town Square Garage, shared his ambivalence about increased surveillance in garages. Newkirk referenced the unsolved shooting death of Charles Joseph Reynolds, a 62-year-old local, at the Wayne Avenue Garage in December 2022, questioning whether this tragic incident prompted the introduction of Parker.
“If they could deter someone from doing something that might be of harm, I’m all for that,” Newkirk stated. However, he did not believe that deploying Parker was the optimal way for the county to allocate its resources.
MCDOT officials aim to use Parker to deter various crimes, including motor vehicle break-ins, auto thefts, robberies, and assaults within the Town Square Parking Garage, which features more than 1,280 parking spaces spread over seven levels. This garage is described as one of the largest and most frequented in Montgomery County, serving over 9,000 customers monthly.
Another downtown Silver Spring resident, Daylen Moon, 30, shared similar reservations regarding how taxpayer funds are spent. Although she recognized a potential benefit in employing a robot as a substitute for traditional security methods, she expressed curiosity about the decision-making process behind selecting Parker.
“I think the public deserves to hear a little bit more about how this came about, how this was decided as the best measure for those kinds of things,” Moon remarked. Having relocated to Silver Spring from Los Angeles in 2020, she described her experience in the area as relatively safe but mentioned that, as a woman, she naturally practices caution when moving through downtown, particularly in garages.
While Moon does not view the robot as essential for garage safety, she remains optimistic about Parker’s potential role in crime prevention. “I think I’m curious to see what the statistics are behind the creation of this RoboCop-thing,” she added.
James Jimason, 57, a visitor from Prince George’s County, echoed Moon’s sentiments. He suggested that while Parker may not be necessary for garage security, it is crucial for the county to proceed cautiously with the deployment and to consider the implications of using robotic technology for security.
“The thing about technology, what do you do if it goes wrong? If there’s a malfunction, if it misjudges what it thinks is a crime, and it could be some kids that are goofing off. What’s going to be the response?” Jimason articulated.
He emphasized that common sense cannot be replaced by technology, especially when it comes to responding to complex human situations. “You can’t replace that split-second judgment ability that we have as humans, especially as we get older and get more experience, which you can’t teach a computer,” he said.
Jimason further advised MCDOT to adopt a wait-and-see approach with Parker, stating that if it fails to serve the community effectively, it should be removed.
According to MCDOT Director Chris Conklin, the intention behind Parker’s deployment is to monitor a range of security concerns, including motor vehicle break-ins, thefts, criminal mischief, safety hazards, loitering, and trespassing via an integrated video camera. This project encompasses a pilot program developed in conjunction with Knightscope, a California-based technology firm known for creating security robots.
Knightscope has faced scrutiny over safety issues and ineffectiveness; one notable incident in 2016 occurred when a toddler in California was injured after being knocked over by one of its robots in a mall.
MCDOT retains exclusive ownership of the data recorded by Parker, while Knightscope can access footage for maintenance purposes. Footage collected by the robot will be retained for a maximum of 30 days, with any security visuals shared with local law enforcement for investigation.
As Parker operates within the garage, it is equipped with lights and sirens that can be activated, along with a call button for reaching county parking security. The robot can identify people and read vehicle license plates, though it lacks facial recognition features and does not record audio. Additionally, MCDOT has stated that Parker will not be utilized for parking enforcement.
In a concerning context, MCDOT noted that 71% of security incidents across county-owned parking garages and lots take place in Silver Spring. These garages are spread across Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Bethesda.
“Most of the incidents that occur in the parking facilities are minor in nature,” Conklin told the County Council during a briefing on July 29. “We do not have a lot of person-to-person violence in the incidents in these garages. The vast majority are damage to property, theft of property, or loitering.”
Nonetheless, more severe incidents have transpired in county-owned garages recently. In December 2022, a Silver Spring man was fatally shot in the Wayne Avenue garage, following which no arrests have been made. Moreover, in July 2023, another shooting claimed a life at the Thayer-Silver Spring Garage, along with other incidents of suicide occurring in these facilities.
To gather feedback from the community, MCDOT is hosting two more public outreach events on September 18 from 5 to 7 p.m., and September 27 from noon to 4 p.m., both at the Silver Spring Parking Sales Store located at 801 Ellsworth Drive.
The events will feature Amharic and Spanish interpreters to assist in disseminating information and responding to inquiries. Feedback will be collected through both electronic and paper surveys, with the robot itself not present at the event—though a life-size cut-out of Parker will be available.
Residents unable to attend these sessions are encouraged to express their thoughts via email to the transportation department’s Parking Division at [email protected] or complete an online survey provided by MCDOT.
The outreach initiative follows concerns from County Council President Kate Stewart and other council members regarding the MCDOT pilot program, which was launched in June 2023 at the Ellsworth Drive Garage without council notification.
Following reports about the program from media on June 11, Stewart and councilmember Sidney Katz called for a suspension of the program until the council could review it.
Conklin clarified that the purpose of the pilot initiative is to establish a more visible security presence in parking facilities compared to traditional surveillance methods.
While public safety pilot programs do not require council votes or public hearings as they fall under budget allocations, Stewart emphasized the importance of keeping the council and community informed about any surveillance initiatives.
As the community prepares to engage with the future of security measures in Montgomery County, hopes and concerns continue to shape perceptions of Parker’s potential role in ensuring safety in downtown Silver Spring.
image source from：bethesdamagazine
