Those with private surveillance cameras asked to share crime info
In an effort to reduce crime by identifying and apprehending individuals involved in criminal activity, the Elmhurst Police Department is proposing a Video-Sharing Partnership with the Elmhurst community. Residents and business owners with private video surveillance cameras taking footage of public areas such as streets, sidewalks, parking lots, etc., are being asked to register the location and direction of their surveillance cameras online for purposes of possibly providing assistance to police in criminal investigations.
This partnership would not be intended for active or live-feed surveillance, or for monitoring neighborhood activity—the Police Department will never have remote access to any private video systems. The program would be used strictly with owners’ permission and cooperation, allowing the Police Department to view footage upon request for possible evidence relating to a specific criminal act in an ongoing investigation.
Under this partnership, minimal personal information is required for registration, and there are no fees involved. The Police Department will maintain a list of private video surveillance cameras available for possible footage. Police will still need to contact the camera owner to request permission to view video footage if a criminal incident occurs in the vicinity of a camera. All registration information will be kept confidential, and registrants can unsubscribe at any time.
This partnership is a way for citizens to work with the Police Department to help keep our community safe. If you have any questions, please contact Deputy Chief Robert Tannehill at (630) 530-3050 or [email protected].
