SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a unique collaboration between the Springfield Police Department and the citizens of Springfield Township, more crime will be deterred and solved, which in turn, will hopefully lead to a safer, better community.
Launched this year, the Community Camera Program gives Springfield residents the opportunity to register their home or business surveillance cameras with the police department. Each registration will be entered into a data base that police can quickly access if needed. If a crime should occur, police can view video from homeowners’ or business owners’ surveillance cameras as an extra investigative tool to nab perpetrators.
The website Safety.com estimates that 38% of Americans own a home security camera. The purchase and installation of home security cameras zoomed this past holiday season to record the drop off of packages. If those homeowners, or even a high percentage of them, participate in the new program, the police should be able to solve more crimes, more quickly.
According to Springfield Police Officer Andrew Graff, the main goal of the program is not only to deter crime, but to encourage overall public safety. Registering a camera is a win-win for all concerned.
“The program is a really positive one that will help the whole community,” Graff explained. “However, it can only work if home and business owners in our community participate. The more residents that take a few minutes to register their cameras, the more successful the program will be and that will benefit everyone.”
The Springfield Police Department has been successfully using municipally-owned, surveillance cameras mounted in public areas along Baltimore Pike to catch bad guys and serve as a crime deterrent since at least 2014. According to police, the cameras have served as crime deterrents, just from people knowing they are there. They also have helped police get information on suspects, which has eventually led to their identification and arrest.
Local residents can register their privately-owned surveillance camera systems with the Springfield police through their website: springfieldpd.com. Registration is free and easy, and takes only minutes to complete. The form asks only a few questions about the home and camera. The camera owner will be contacted if there is a criminal incident in the vicinity of their camera as indicated by their registration so that video footage can be viewed. All residents will remain in control of their cameras and their registration will remain private. The video will remain confidential and not be distributed except as required by law or court order for use as evidence.
The Philadelphia Police Department instituted the SafeCam program, a similar program to Springfield’s new Community Camera program, over four years ago, and has been demonstrating the effectiveness of forming the contemporary prevention and investigative program.
“The success of the Philadelphia program and our new Springfield program is dependent upon a strong partnership between police and the community we serve,” Graff remarked. “We really encourage residents to register. The more who register, the better this program will work.”
All video surveillance footage will continue to remain the camera owner’s property until it is requested and collected by the Springfield Township Police Department. Police will not be able to access or view any video remotely.
Residents’ participation in this program will not obligate them to release any surveillance video, unless they are willing when and if the time comes.
To register a home or business surveillance camera, visit springfieldpd.com and click on the Community Camera Program link. For questions, call Graff at 610-544-1100, ext. 423.
