Crime Watch RGBMore information was presented about the possibility of linking private security cameras at this month’s Community Crime Watch meeting last week. The networking system would allow New Carlisle residents to connect their home security cameras in attempt to ward off crime.

The networking system was brought to the Crime Watch group by Jeff Turner, who owns K9 Solutions Center and Black Shield, which specializes in state-of-the-art surveillance and security camera systems. Turner presented the idea to the Crime Watch group at last month’s meeting, saying he would be willing to coordinate the linking of cameras belonging to residents who volunteer to participate.

Turner asked the Crime Watch committee to come up with some guidelines regarding who can participate as well as who can have access to the footage. He suggested forming a test group by linking three or four cameras before offering the service to the entire city, noting that he has never linked an entire city before through his work in surveillance and law enforcement. Concerning who has access to the live-streaming footage of networked cameras, Turner said he did not believe that anyone who does not have a participating camera should be able to view the footage.

He also suggested that residents who volunteer their camera for linking should sign some sort of waiver or release acknowledging that their footage will be shared with others in the group. Turner said that participating residents will be able to determine which camera or cameras on their property will be shared with the system, as he said that many security systems often include multiple cameras. Cameras facing the street or another public area would be ideal, and no interior cameras would be linked.

He said that those participating in the linked system should also share their contact information with one another so that they can reach each other if something suspicious is seen on film.

“You don’t want to run into a situation where you see your neighbor’s car getting broken into but you can’t call them because you don’t have their number,” Turner said.

Adding traction to the concept of linked private security cameras, Ron Cobb said that 12 residents are now interested in joining the Citizens On Preventive Patrol (COPP), and that he is just waiting for New Carlisle City Council to officially approve the program so he can submit the applications to Sheriff Kelly for background checks.

Cobb said that the COPP program would consist of private citizens patrolling the city in pairs, on set shifts, and essentially act as “an extra set of eyes for the city.” Cobb asked Turner if the linked security camera footage could be streamed directly to the COPP members as they patrol the city in their official vehicle. Turner said this was possible, given that the COPP patrollers had a strong wireless connection on the devices in their car. Cobb said that the COPP volunteers will communicate with the Sheriff’s Office by calling dispatch on their phones, and they have not been given access to portable radio frequencies.

Those who volunteer in linking their cameras would be able to opt-out of the system at any time by simply changing their username and password so that their cameras would no longer be linked.

This networking system is still an idea, as no foundation has been set in place, but the Crime Watch committee will work to develop a set of guidelines for participation in the system. The New Carlisle News will provide updates on this system as they become available.

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