Posted on 03/25/2015 9:03:47 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The Fargo Police Department has launched a voluntary program whereby they’re requesting that citizens give them access to their video feeds in exchange for a sticker:
FARGO – If you’ve got a video camera, police want to take a peek. A new program unveiled Tuesday allows residents and business owners here to give police access to their video cameras. Police say they’d like to use the footage to solve and deter crime. …
The program, called SafeCam, “helps citizens be proactive in protecting their homes,” said Officer Jessica Schindeldecker.
Those who register their cameras will receive a Police Department sticker, intended to deter crime, which they can place in their window, she said.
The request comes as Fargo law enforcement begins using a new online feature called CrimeReports.com which will allow citizens to access a database of some of the crimes happening around them. “The data posted online does not include general calls for service, traffic incidents, police activity where no crime report was taken, and most sexual assaults, crimes against children, domestic violence cases, narcotics cases and medical calls,” reports the Forum.
But still, transparency is a good thing, and I like the idea of citizens being able to easily access this information.
Still, the camera feed thing is kind of weird. I’m not sure why police need access to private video streams, or why the public should grant them that access.
Security cameras are generally an after-the-fact tool for solving crimes. Few, if any, of these video streams are being actively monitored. Rather, their value is in establishing what happened after the fact. As such, the current system where police request footage from cameras in the area of an incident (or obtain it through a properly issued warrant) seems sufficient to me.
I really don’t want to go down the road where police have this sort of access. I mean, today they’re asking for it. How long until it’s a requirement?
“Geez, really, guys - a helo was all over the suspect, he wasn’t getting away.”
Exactly, because when you can see them from a helicopter, that’s basically caught!/ Just like in demolition man when the surveillance cam located Simon Phoenix and they all began celebrating because the crime was “solved”.
I remember another time in the marines. After a company size attack against a position defended by some NROTCs on a summer training exercise, one female ROTC was explaining how the company was wiped out because “i saw him, and him, and him, and that whole platoon, etc etc.” In her mind seeing was a good as a kill.
Police stickers. Get one today. Collect them, trade them with your friends, get them autographed by your favorite cop, hoard them and then sell them at Police Sticker Fairs.
Once a “voluntary” program is established, it’s not too long before it becomes mandatory. It’s basically like a “temporary” tax.
No problem as long as it is a choice being offered and not a mandate.
Snitches get stitches.
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