TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Do you have a remote security system? The Tallahassee Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies are asking you to sign up for a new program that would give them access to your cameras in order to fight crime.
The Connect Tallahassee program, under a new Real Time Crime Center venture, was announced on Friday and would allow homeowners and business owners to voluntarily sign up to give police near real-time access to their cameras.
“So we feel as though that’s a good investment because now the infrastructure costs we’re not going to have on procuring and trying to put up all the cameras ourselves. So we leverage what the community has. So we believe we’ll get a very good return on investment as we go through that,” said Jason Lowe, the co-director of the Real Time Crime Center.
FAMU Association Professor Dr. Lee Bushong, a policing expert, was initially hesitant because of the fourth amendment. But, he said after looking into it more, his concerns are gone.
“My first reaction was as a private citizen. And my concern there would be rooted in the Fourth Amendment, looking at law enforcement, could this potentially be an overreach? Could it be? And then as I dug a little bit deeper into it, I thought this was voluntary that this was sign up,” Bushong said.
He went on to say that the new program will be a boost for local law enforcement.
“In the older days that were done with shoe leather, right? People would go out, they’d knock on the doors, they would ask people if they had any information that they could share. And do you happen to have any cameras on the property?” Bushong said. “And if so, may we have a copy of that? And I really don’t see this being much different than an area canvas.”
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For businesses that opt-in, the Real Time Crime Center could gain live access to security camera. For residential cameras, law enforcement would search a list for people who have cameras nearby and ask them for the footage.
“A hundred percent (sign up) is the goal. Obviously, any camera that we get, whether residential or business, is just going to add to the ability to solve crimes more quickly and keep our community safer,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.
Dr. Bushong also said to compel a person to give the video against their will would require a warrant signed by a judge, while TPD officials stressed the program is entirely voluntarily.
TPD is partnering with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida State University Police Department for this initiative.
“And as Chief Revel said, this isn’t about Big Brother or us looking in,” said Undersheriff Ron Cave. “This is a completely voluntary program that community members and businesses can join in, strengthening coordination and collaboration with our Real Time Crime Center.”
For residents, the program is free. For businesses, the cost starts at $350. To learn more about the program or register your cameras, visit this website.
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